Music, food and fireworks marked the end of St. Mary’s Feast in Cranston Sunday — a 119-year-old festival that is the highlight of the year for many residents in the city’s Knightsville section. The five-day event draws tens of thousands of people to celebrate with a combination of religious and secular activities, including special services  at St. Mary’s Church and a procession to honor the Madonna della Civita.

During the procession , the church’s beloved statue of the Madonna is carried through the streets of Knightsville where many residents trace their ancestry to Itri, Italy.  According to tradition,  the feast celebrates a miracle that occurred in Itri in 796 A.D. when a shepherd who was deaf and mute was cured after finding a painting of Mary and the baby Jesus in a tree on Mount Civita.

The five-day festival, organized by the St Mary’s Feast Society,  is a joyous time in the Knightsville area.  In keeping with tradition, the closing of the feast Sunday was marked with music,  amusements,  and a spectacular fireworks display. Turn to Page 20 for more photos.