121st St. Mary’s Feast Opens — with Family Fun, Tradition and Safety in Focus

St. Mary’s Feast is celebrating its 121st year, running from July 15 through 19 in Cranston’s Knightsville neighborhood.

The beloved tradition features nightly music, Italian food throughout the day and evening, and rides and games for children and families – and, of course, the best fireworks event on Sunday night.

As a Cranston-based organization, we want to emphasize two important points for those attending this year’s Feast.

First: the weather. Smoky, humid and unhealthy conditions could make the outdoor celebration especially challenging. Stay hydrated, take breaks when needed and come prepared for the heat and poor air quality.

Second: security. We reached out to Cranston Police Chief Colonel Michael J. Winquist about the extensive measures being put in place to help keep the Feast safe and enjoyable for families and visitors.

With people arriving from throughout New England, large outdoor crowds and oppressive weather, everyone should remain alert. Stay aware of your surroundings, and remember: if you see something, say something.

Colonel Winquist provided the following statement:

“We are confident in the comprehensive security measures implemented for the event. These measures include K-9 teams, real-time crowd monitoring through a variety of technologies, strategically placed vehicle barriers to prevent unauthorized access into the secured event area, rapid-response tactical assets, and uniformed/plainclothes officers deployed throughout the venue.

In addition, the Cranston Police Department works closely with the Rhode Island Fusion Center to continuously monitor social media and other publicly available platforms for discussions that may indicate potential threats or planned disruptions, enabling us to proactively address concerns before they affect public safety.

Finally, at the request of the Mayor and the Cranston Police Department, the City’s Safety Services Committee approved an earlier conclusion to the evening’s activities by requiring all outdoor entertainment to end by 11:00 p.m. and all bar service to cease by 11:30 p.m. These measures are intended to facilitate a safe and orderly conclusion to the event while minimizing the potential for late-night disturbances.”

• Colonel Michael J. Winquist, Chief of Police, Cranston Police Department

Saying all of this – have a wonderful time – check social media for any changes along the way.  Note the new close by time for end-of-evening ride meeting.