By Stephen Quigley
South Boston has St. Patrick’s Day.
Charlestown has Bunker Hill Day.
And East Boston has Eastie Pride Day.
This Saturday, August 20, will mark the 33rd year that local residents, businesses, and elected officials will gather for an extravaganza at Piers Park to highlight the East Boston neighborhood experience. The event will feature an afternoon of food, music, face painting, sailing, live entertainment, and children’s games that will take place at Piers Park on Marginal Street from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Eastie Pride Day has become a summer tradition for many families for over 30 years. Each year in August the neighborhood celebrates Eastie’s diverse culture, rich history, and community pride.
According to the Chair of the Eastie Pride Day Committee, Liana LaMattina, who took over the reins from her father and Eastie Pride Day founder, Sal LaMattina, the event is typically a day of food, children’s activities, and contests at Piers Park. However, the committee has devised a new way to celebrate the community in a safe, COVID-19 conscious way.
This year’s Eastie Pride Day will center on encouraging the community to support the resilient local businesses, restaurants, and organizations. The participating organizations and additional updates on this year’s event can be found on the Eastie Pride Day website at https://www.EastiePrideDay.com/.
Eastie Pride Day was founded in 1989 by former Boston City Councilor Sal LaMattina as a summer block party and community celebration to bring Eastie residents closer together.
So, on a hot summer night at East Boston Memorial Stadium, the first Eastie Pride Day was held.
“When we planned the first Eastie Pride Day, we thought that would be it,” said Sal LaMattina. “Have everyone come down, show off their Eastie Pride, and it will be over.”
But the success of the very first East Pride Day was all that LaMattina and longtime organizers such as Larry and Carol Smith and the late Anthony Albano needed to keep it going.
If you have questions or would like to get involved with the Eastie Pride Day’s celebration this year, please contact the committee at [email protected]. To stay up to date on this year’s Eastie Pride Day and future announcements, follow Eastie Pride Day on Facebook and on Instagram at @EastiePrideDay, or visit their website at www.EastiePrideDay.com.
And for some, the highlight of the local eateries will be the cake ceremony that will take place. The cake once again has been donated by Spinelli’s.
Sponsors of the event include Suffolk University, Massport, and the East Boston Foundation.
Eastie Pride Day Donors include Century 21 Mario Real Estate, City of Boston, Northern Management Group, McDonald’s NOAH (Neighborhood of Affordable Housing, Inc.), The Quiet Few, Zumix, Santarpio’s Pizza and Ruggiero Family Memorial Home.
Participants as of press time include Slush King, Boston Face Painting, Veronica Robles Cultural Center, Arctic Glacier, Globos y Fiestas, Curious Creatures, Pony Town Parties, Milano’s, Meridian Market, Carlo’s Catering, Beverly Richards Performers, the Michael Firicano Band, Tokyo Joe, and Kelly’s Pub.