Columbus Day Parade and Italian Food Festival Oct. 8
The Sons of Italy’s annual Columbus Day Parade and Italian Food Festival will be held Saturday, Oct. 8, from 3-10 p.m.
The grand marshall of the “Children are our Future”-themed parade is Kiwanis president Sam Huber. The parade starts at 3 p.m. and will feature floats, fire engines, local bands and vintage cars making their way along Southeast 47th Terrace from Southeast 15th Avenue to Club Square, where the festival kicks into high gear.
Now in its fourth year, this family-centered festival evolved from a partnership between the Sons of Italy and the South Cape Community Redevelopment Agency. The festival features entertainment, food and refreshments, live entertainment, games, spaghetti- and pizza-eating contests, prizes, pony rides and a children’s zone.
Admission is free. No festival honoring Columbus would be complete without Italian cuisine. Local restaurants and vendors will offer some of Italy’s specialty dishes – and hopefully enough of each one.
Bring your chair to watch the parade and then to enjoy all the great live entertainment.
Among the planned entertainment is acclaimed tenor Maurice Lo Monaco. He performs at 7:30 p.m. as the headlining act. It’s his third visit to the festival; his second as the main attraction.
Additional entertainment will be provided by Z-Bop featuring Vinnie B., the Del Prados, Sas & Pearl, Calendar Girls and the Lisa Meyer Dancers.
If your business would like to be in the parade or if you are interested in being a vendor, contact Linda Biondi, 239-246-1157.