The 101st Feast of the Blessed Sacrament begins Thursday evening, and Mayor Jon Mitchell says the celebration should be one of the safest yet.

Speaking on his weekly radio program, Mitchell says the City and the Feast Committee have added additional police officers both on and off of the feast grounds. "Not so much because of the feast itself, we think that there are any real risks there or new risks there, but we're adding police officers so that there's greater safety in the neighborhoods when the feast lets out. If you live near the feast, you don't want people going around stealing things or carrying on in any way," said Mitchell.

The City has also taken steps to speak with North End bar owners, asking them to be responsible when serving patrons who may be coming in from the feast.

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