The Annual “Big Time” celebration as it’s known dates back to 1883.  The term was given by Fr. Denisco who started the civic-religious celebration because he felt the need for camaraderie.  The initial celebration was patterned after the festival that took place in Roseto Valfortore, Italy.  The festival days were set aside to honor Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and were always held on the last weekend in July.  In the early days, the festival was held for a full week beginning on a Monday.  It has since changed to a five-day period beginning on a Wednesday.  On Saturday night, a fireworks display takes place; then on Sunday, there is a procession down Garibaldi Avenue to honor the Blessed Virgen Mary.

Throughout the years, the celebration grew.  It included a variety of amusements: circus-type shows, band concerts, and finally, the fireworks display on Saturday night.  A vast assortment of foods complemented the entertainment.  These included such delicacies as sausage and peppers, pizza fritta, Italian candy, and cookies. Vendors lined both sides of Garibaldi Avenue offering their wares as far as Columbus Street.  Originally, the grounds were located on a baseball field where Our Lady of Mount Carmel Elementary School now stands.  From there, it was relocated to the Roseto Ball Park and later to the Amelio Scott Stadium of Pius X High School.  Now, part of it is on the High School grounds while most of the celebration has returned to Our Lady of Mount Carmel School grounds.

Family reunions often go hand-in-hand with the Big Time. Relatives and friends from near and far visit each other and attend the Big Time.  While not as expansive as it once was, crowds still come to the celebration from a radius of about seventy miles.