About the Festival

The Gregorian Festival is now proudly celebrating its 45th year. The festival traces its roots back to June 1979, when Monsignor Eugene Feldhause and Fr. LoPinto, together with Mr. and Mrs. Persico, Vincent Montemorano, and a dedicated group of parents and parish members, brainstormed an idea that would become a beloved neighborhood tradition. Their vision was simple but meaningful: to celebrate the rich cultural tapestry of the neighborhood and the parish community of St. Gregory the Great.

From the very beginning, the festival opened each year with a parade — a spirited neighborhood event that drew the community together and set the tone for the celebration to come. Beyond the festivities, the event also served an important practical purpose, functioning as a key fundraiser for the parish and St. Gregory the Great Catholic Academy, which has served the Bellerose community since 1936.

What has always made the Gregorian Festival truly special is that it is entirely volunteer-driven. From the food vendors to the electrical crews to the stage setup and teardown, every role is filled by dedicated members of the community who give their time and talent year after year. For many years the festival ran for 11 nights; it now runs for 8, continuing to welcome tens of thousands of visitors — each night dedicated to a different cultural heritage, from Irish and Hispanic to Filipino, Caribbean, German, Polish, and Italian — reflecting the vibrant, multicultural spirit of Bellerose, Queens.

The only interruption in the festival's history came in 2020 and 2021, when the event was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Those two years reminded the community just how much the Gregorian Festival means to Bellerose — and when it triumphantly returned in 2022, the outpouring of support said it all.

This year marks a historic milestone: for the first time in the festival's 45-year history, two women are serving as co-chairs — JoAnn Duran-Peña and Tara Catalbiano. Their leadership reflects a broader achievement worth celebrating: women now make up the majority of department captains, playing a central role in bringing this beloved event to life each year.

We are also proud to honor three women as Grand Marshals who have dedicated themselves to the festival since its earliest days: Cathy Walsh, Lynne Zeuner, and Cathy Cotroneo. Their decades of commitment and service are a true reflection of the heart and soul of the Gregorian Festival.