Food soothes soggy attendees at San Gennaro Feast
Christina Tsaveras, 11, of Hampton Bays, with her parents Joe and Roe Tsaveras, makes a donation to the statue of San Gennaro during the 4th Annual San Gennaro Feast of the Hamptons in Hampton Bays, Oct. 4, 2014. Credit: Heather Walsh / Heather Walsh
Marian Mora enjoyed her gyro, even though it came with sprinkles she had not ordered -- in the form of rain.
"It's still good," the East Quogue resident said as she took another bite. "The food here is great."
Mora was among those couple hundred who decided that -- rain or shine -- they were going to the San Gennaro Feast of the Hamptons in Hampton Bays on Saturday despite downpours that put a damper on sales for dozens of vendors.
The fourth annual two-day event -- sponsored by the chamber of commerce -- featured kiddie and adult rides, cotton candy, funnel cake, liquor, shish kebab, hot pretzels, Italian specialties and desserts, fried Oreos, henna body art, glitter tattooing, barbecue utensils and more.
"We've had a few people but the weather's been killing us," said Tom Nathan, who helped operate the Starship Gravitron, a ride that spins until riders stick to the walls.
The ride had opened when the feast started for the day at 10 a.m. but by shortly before 2:30 he had had only about 40 takers. "We expected probably double that by now."
"It's been a slow start," said Craig Theriault, who worked the booth for the Hampton Seafood Co. Referring to the rain and working outside, he said, "I guess it comes with the territory."
But many feast goers, even if the territory was soaked, still had fun.
"I've been coming as long as this has been going on," said Donna King of Hampton Bays, who is Italian. "Our community gets together, and we see people from town that we haven't seen in a while."
"My father used to call it holy water," Melissa Marcou of Flanders said of the rain.
The rain also didn't stop a very enthusiastic Reggie Lassiter from encouraging people walking by to try the cannolis offered by the Kannoli Kings food truck. On the menu were various selections of the Italian favorite, including dessert cannoli in different flavors as well as unsweetened cannoli with such fillings as truffle bacon and cheese, barbecue chicken, pulled pork, meatballs and sausage and peppers.
"It [business] hasn't been as good as we'd hoped," said Joe Pinola, who was helping on the truck. "But we're hoping for a good clear night and a strong turnout tomorrow."
The feast, which also features live music, continues Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
