CLEVELAND — For those of the Catholic faith, The Feast of the Assumption is a religious holy day that includes traditions that seem to be almost as old as time for parishioners of the Holy Rosary Church in Cleveland’s Little Italy. 

What You Need To Know

  • As COVID-19 restrictions have loosened, many annual events have returned

  • In northeast Ohio, Cleveland’s Little Italy has completely transformed for The Feast of the Assumption

  • For those of the Catholic faith, The Feast of the Assumption is a religious holy day
  • Tammy Moore of the Holy Rosary Church has been participating in the feast for 30 years

  • The Feast of the Assumption always occurs on Aug. 15

“This is an annual festival with the exception of a few pandemics now. So officially, it's the 122nd celebration of the feast here at Holy Rosary,” said Tammy Moore of Holy Rosary Church. 

Moore is the volunteer coordinator for The Feast of the Assumption, and this is her 30th year participating in the event in Cleveland, which always occurs on Aug. 15.

“As Catholics, the Feast of the Assumption is a holy day, honoring our blessed mother's assumption into heaven,” she said.

Moore said that over the years, it has evolved from only a mass and procession on Aug. 15 to an event featuring just about every storefront and restaurant in Little Italy. It is now a four-day community celebration that draws thousands to the church and to Mayfield Road. 

“People who haven't been here in a few years really missed it last year because we couldn't have it, and I think with COVID people are better appreciating main core values in life,” Moore said. 

Moore said preparing for the event hasn’t been easy, especially while navigating the coronavirus pandemic, but she said the work is always worth it. 

“Continuing that celebration of, first of all faith, family, food — Italian food,” she said. “That's why a lot of people come here and then fun, so that is what the annual celebration has been about.”