Seaside Heights hosts Columbus Day Parade and Italian Festival

SEASIDE HEIGHTS - Celebrate all things Italian this weekend as Ocean County's Columbus Day Parade and a three-day festival are expected to draw thousands to Seaside Heights.

"It looks like the weather is going to be with us," Mayor Anthony Vaz said Thursday, noting preparations for the festival were nearly finished. Disrupted by the pandemic, and then bad weather last year, the annual events are back in full force this year.

Folklore groups from Italy will return for the festivities for the first time since the pandemic, with "Sbandieratori e Musici" and "Gruppo Folkcloristico "Miromagnum," from Emiglia Romana and Calabria, respectively, making the trip to march in the parade and perform at the festival.

Performances by similar groups from Italy have been highlights of recent festivals; last year, when the parade and festival returned from a year's pandemic-related hiatus, the Italian government was unwilling to risk sending performers to the U.S. for the event, parade Chairman Michael Blandina said.

This year, two groups are coming.

The 31st annual Columbus Day parade kicks off at 1 p.m. Sunday, marching north on the Boulevard. It starts at Porter Avenue and finishes at Hiering Avenue. Floats and marchers will gather at J Street in neighboring Seaside Park to get in line for the parade.

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The Italian Festival, which features food vendors, crafts and live entertainment, will be held on Grant Avenue. Hours are 4 to 10 p.m. today, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.

This year, the parade's grand marshal will be Gilda Rorro Baldassari, former director of the New Jersey Department of Education's Office of Equal Educational Opportunity and assistant superintendent for human resources with the Trenton school district.

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Baldassari served as chairperson of the New Jersey Italian Heritage Commission and helped development an Italian heritage curriculum for use in state schools. She was knighted by the president of Italy, who bestowed the honorary title of "Cavaliere."

"Gilda stood out among this year’s nominees because of her commitment to all that is Italian," said screening committee member Luigi Luongo in a prepared statement. "We are confident that this extraordinary individual will uphold the fine tradition established by her predecessors."

For more information about the parade and festival, go to www.columbus.org, or email Blandina at info@columbusnj.org.

Jean Mikle covers Toms River and several other Ocean County towns. She's also passionate about the Shore's storied music scene. Contact her: @jeanmikle,  jmikle@gannettnj.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Columbus Day Parade and Italian Festival to be held in Seaside Heights