The annual Marco Polo Festival celebrates the Chinese and Italian-American immigrant communities of Little Italy and Chinatown. It is the preeminent New York City occasion to celebrate the rich heritage of Asian and Italian history and culture. In recognition of these dynamic communities, and to celebrate the official Chinatown & Little Italy National Register Historic District designation, New York’s Chinese and Italian communities came together in October 2009 to celebrate the first annual Marco Polo Day, now the Marco Polo Festival.
Annual Marco Polo Pageant and Festival
Every October, Two Bridges Neighborhood Council hosts its annual Marco Polo Pageant and Festival, celebrating the Chinatown & Little Italy Historic District. The pageant features giant marionettes of Kublai Khan and Marco Polo in front of the Chinatown Consolidated Benevolent Association (CCBA) on Mott St., and wound its way through Mott and Mulberry Streets to Grand Street followed by a cultural program and performances the rest of that afternoon. This occasion welcomes the participation of numerous local artists and musicians of Chinese, Italian and Mongolian heritage.
We look forward to the 12th Anniversary celebration in October 2020. Stay tuned for event updates.
The Marco Polo Festival serves as the preeminent New York City occasion to celebrate the rich heritage of Asian & Italian history and culture.
Check out our events page and social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) for details and updates as they develop!
