OCEAN COUNTY – The three-day County Columbus Day Parade & Italian Festival brought vendors, music, food and fun to Seaside Heights once again and you didn’t have to be Italian to enjoy it.
“We are happy to say the Ocean County Columbus Day Parade and Italian Festival has become one of the most popular ethnic cultural festivals in the state,” Ocean County Columbus Day Parade and Italian Festival Committee Chairman Michael Blandina said.
Each year the festival, which kicks off on a Friday, takes place along Grant Avenue in the borough, between Ocean Terrace and W Central Avenue, and features a variety of delicious food and Italian specialties, craft vendors and exhibitors plus live entertainment.
This year’s weather proved better than most with Friday’s expected rain failing to make an appearance. Some brisk winds showed up on Saturday evening. Sunday’s weather was perfect all day long.
The festival culminated with the 32nd Annual Ocean County Columbus Day Parade which had marchers heading down the Boulevard. There were marching bands, floats, antique cars, Mummers, and various organizations, local and not so local groups.
An event tradition is the presence of an ethnic folkloric band who comes directly from Italy. This year’s group was “Citta’ dei Trulli.”
Chairman Blandina always credits John Giavatto, International Relations Chairman, with continuing to arrange for groups like “Citta’ dei Trulli” to attend various cultural events in Ocean County during their time in America.
Additional performances took place around Ocean County. They visited senior communities and area high schools, before and after the festival weekend.
“Citta’ dei Trulli” consists of approximately 40 members, divided between dancers and musicians. This group was founded in 1928 to represent their region’s traditions, costumes, dances and songs. This marked their first visit to Ocean County.
Former Toms River Councilwoman Maria Maruca served once again as the parade’s announcer at the band stand. She introduced Lisa Pizzella who served as this year’s Grand Marshal – an honor she received due to her efforts on behalf of Italian heritage and culture
For the Imbrenda family of Toms River, the parade and festival are a tradition. They were busy cooking up their special brand of Italian sausage and pepper sandwiches throughout the weekend. Lydezia and her husband Pat (who had the day off on parade day) bring their stand Pat’s Italian Sausage every year.
“We’ve had the stand since my daughter was 2,” Lydezia Imbrenda said pointing to her daughter (Joelle Ellis). “She’s 51 now.”
“We have a family recipe. Only family works here and we fight every day,” she joked. “All my grandchildren work here too. My niece and her daughter are here today,” she added.
Imbrenda said she was glad for such great weather. “We don’t know what the word umbrella is so we just wait for the nice weather to come.”
Further down the street was Mick Julia of Mullica Hill who operated Karen and the Nut selling a variety of roasted nuts. “This is our first time here but we started back in 2012. We saw only one person doing it so I decided to give it a try and bought the business.”
Julia said he averages 10 festivals a year. “We did the Ocean City block party yesterday. I have another stand in Ocean City. We missed Friday but we were here Saturday and came back today.
You could also pick up a T-shirt for $5 to show your Italian pride from the Seaside Heights Italian American Club. Their stand and at least one other featured T-shirts that poked fun of the age-old debate of whether it is called tomato sauce or gravy.
Blandina noted that it takes 12 months to prepare and raise the funds for all that goes on during the weekend. The committee consists of a small group of individuals who are volunteers.
“Their efforts have made the parade and Italian Festival a reality for more than a quarter of a century,” Blandina added.
