Every December in Fairmont, The Feast of the Seven Fishes Festival celebrates the Italian Christmas Eve tradition of feasting on numerous fish dishes, fritellas and cannolis with friends and family. This winter street festival is a holiday homecoming! Enjoy great food and wine, delight in the music of the season, and shop local artisans for your holiday wishlist.
It’s one of the best times to visit. Eat the food, drink the wine, and learn the tricks! Buon appetito
Festival Cucina!
Experience an Italian family kitchen at Festival Cucina! (It’s held on the Friday prior to the Festival.) Watch and learn as Italian chefs prepare the food of their families and traditional Italian holidays.
Festival History
In 2005, Marion County native Robert “Bob” Tinnel published his graphic novel, ‘Feast of the Seven Fishes,’ based on his experiences of growing up in an Italian-American family, specifically the Christmas Eve tradition of the same name that consists of a meatless meal with several seafood courses. Feast of the Seven Fishes, also known as Vigilia di Natale (or La Vigilia), is said to observe the wait until the midnight birth of the baby Jesus.
The next year, 2006, Tinnell and his wife, Shannon Colaianni Tinnell, collaborated with Main Street Fairmont and the community to organize the first Feast of the Seven Fishes Festival in Fairmont. The event has continued ever since, and thousands attend each year.
The Feast of the Seven Fishes Festival has been named a Top 20 Event for December by the Southeast Tourism Society.
‘Feast of the Seven Fishes’ Film
A film version of ‘Feast of the Seven Fishes’ written and directed by Tinnell and based on his book was shot in West Virginia. It was released on November 15, 2019. The cast includes Skyler Gisondo, Madison Iseman, Josh Helman, Addison Timlin, Ray Abruzzo, Paul Ben-Victor, Joe Pantoliano, Andrew Schulz, Lynn Cohen and Jessica Darrow.
More information can be found here: https://feastofthesevenfishesmovie.com/.
Take a Tour
Take a tour of Marion County and see the sites featured in Robert Tinnell’s film.
Locations include:
- High Level Bridge
- Marion County Courthouse
- Woody’s Restaurant
- Grandpa Johnny’s House on Clayton Street
- Johnny’s Market (DeMary’s Market)
- Liquor Store Exterior (formerly Morrone’s)
- Catholic Church Exterior (Assumption Records)
- The Melody Manor (Tonya’s Bar on Rte. 19)
- Catholic Church Interior (Rivesville UMC)
