SEASIDE HEIGHTS – This year’s Ocean County Columbus Day Parade enjoyed perfect weather capping off the third day of the Italian Heritage Festival.
Families lined the street waiting for the start of the parade. Mike and Debbie Cruz of Lavallette were standing nearby the stage – having picked up some lunch from one their favorite vendor.
“We do this every other year and it is a nice day to relax and have some fun,” Mike Cruz said. He was enjoying a platter of penne vodka pasta while his wife ate a nice sized eggplant sandwich.
“We have a great time here,” she said.
Across from the couple was TJ’s Zeppole’s stand. Workers there were busy baking and sprinkling powdered sugar on their top product.
When asked how many they sold during the weekend, Willie Scala replied, “I haven’t a clue. We’ve come out to this event for over 25 years.”
Danielle Scala said, “we’re a family operation. It’s owned by Tommy Scala and we’re from Pompton Lakes. We do a lot of different festivals like this. It has been a busy weekend.”
For singer Steve Silcato however, it was his first time here, singing the smooth sounds of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Tony Bennett. He was singing a rendition of “Runaround Sue” with his audience at the street fair and even got some attendees to sing along with him.
“You’ve been a great audience and I’m going to close with the Frank Sinatra anthem,” he said as he belted out “My Way” while on the steps of the parade stage.
Offstage, he shared “I’m originally from Wilmington Delaware but now I hail out of Philly. This is my first year here and it’s been great.”
For little Matthew Hunley of Upper Darby Pa. who was with his aunt for the event, entertainment meant a pony ride from one of the ponies of Honkey Ranch Pony Rides and Petting Farm. “This was fun,” he said. Pony rides and inflatable attractions were part of the children’s entertainment area behind the food tent on Ocean Terrace.
A number of street performers played music and sang either roaming along Grant Avenue and Ocean Terrace or singing old favorites under the food tent during the festival.
This year also marked the return of performers who came directly from Italy to be part of the festival and parade which featured floats, local high school bands, pipe bands as well as local organizations and elected officials.
“The parade has become one of the most ethnic in the state and is the highlight of the three-day Italian Festival,” Parade Chairman Michael Blandina said. “The Parade Committee is especially proud to bring new attractions each year from Italy who are bringing a touch of the homeland to these events. This year we continued that tradition with Gruppo Sbandieratori e Musici and Gruppo Folkcloristico Miromagnum.”
The COVID -19 pandemic prevented all the festivities from occurring in 2020. The parade and street festival returned last year but an entertainment group from Italy could not be secured due to conditions of the pandemic at that time.
Gruppo Sbandieratori e Musici hails from Faenza, a city of just over 59,000 in the region of Emilia Romagna. The group was founded in 1959 to represent and revive live medieval battles. Their colorful flags with heraldic designs feature their district and honor to carry on the battlefield.
Gruppo Folkcloristico Miromagnum are from a small village with just under 2,800 residents located in the Region of Calabria. The 22-member group is divided between singers, dancers and musicians and are experienced in folklore. Their performances are choreographed with their musical arrangements.
Members of the Lacey Italian-American Club once again assisted the Parade Committee in serving up some meals at the Quonset hut on Grant Avenue from area Italian restaurants and businesses for the two visiting musical groups during the weekend.
During their visit the musical groups enjoyed some day trips arranged by the Parade/Italian Heritage Festival Committee. They also made several additional performances around Ocean County at senior communities and area high schools.
Blandina credited the hard work and dedication of his committee that consists of Band Chair John Giavatto, Groups and Organization Co-Chairs Nora and Clarence Davis, Antique Car Chair Luigi Luongo and Float Chair John Celentano.
