The 2014 Italian Festival in Seaside Heights. (Photo: Parade/Festival Committee)
Ocean County’s Columbus Day Parade will proceed down the Boulevard this Sunday, but the borough will play host to an Italian Festival that lasts all weekend long.
The festival will be centered on Grant Avenue, where vendors and other have been setting up for several days. The parade will then proceed south-to-north on the Boulevard through town.
Entertainment:
| PERFORMING | TIME | LOCATION |
| FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2015 | ||
| Jersey Shore DJ Entertainment | 4:30 p.m. | Entertainment and Dining Tent |
| Fred Guarino and Friends | 5:30 p.m. | Entertainment and Dining Tent |
| Opening Ceremonies | 5:50 p.m. | Main Stage |
| Strolling Metropolitan Festival Band | 6:00 p.m. | Along Grant Ave & Ocean Terr |
| Dominique and Julian | 6:00 p.m. | Main Stage |
| Folkloric Group “Scialapopolo” (From Italy) | 7:45 p.m. | Main Stage |
| SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2015 | ||
| Jersey Shore DJ Entertainment | 11:30 a.m. | Entertainment and Dining Tent |
| Absolutely Bonkers (Children’s Characters) | 12:00 p.m. | Along Grant Avenue |
| Sounds of the Street | 1:30 p.m. | Main Stage |
| Joe Salvia | 1:30 p.m. | Entertainment and Dining Tent |
| Folkloric Group “Scialapopolo” (From Italy) | 2:45 p.m. | Main Stage |
| Joe Salvia | 2:45 p.m. | Entertainment and Dining Tent |
| Jimmy Bono Geany | 3:45 p.m. | Entertainment and Dining Tent |
| Juke Box Legends: Joe Leo and Billy Sagarese | 4:15 p.m. | Main Stage |
| Strolling Metropolitan Festival Band | 5:00 p.m. | Along Grant Ave & Ocean Terr |
| Total Soul | 5:30 p.m. | Main Stage |
| Patsy Palma | 5:45 p.m. | Entertainment and Dining Tent |
| Jersey Shore DJ Entertainment | 6:30 p.m. | Entertainment and Dining Tent |
| Folkloric Group “Scialapopolo” (From Italy) | 7:00 p.m. | Main Stage |
| Patsy Palma | 7:30 p.m. | Entertainment and Dining Tent |
| Jersey Shore DJ Entertainment | 8:30 p.m. | Entertainment and Dining Tent |
| SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2015 | ||
| Fred Guarino and Friends | 11:00 a.m. | Reviewing Stand |
| Absolutely Bonkers (Children’s Characters) | 12:00 p.m. | Along Grant Avenue |
| B & G Entertainment | 12:30 p.m. | Entertainment and Dining Tent |
| 24th ANNUAL OCEAN COUNTY COLUMBUS DAY PARADE | 1:00 P.M. | THE BOULEVARD |
| Jimmy Bono Geany | 2:00 p.m. | Entertainment and Dining Tent |
| Strolling Minstrels | 2:30 p.m. | Along Grant Ave & Ocean Terr |
| Folkloric Group “Scialapopolo” (From Italy) | 2:45 p.m. | Reviewing Stand |
| Rancho Folclorico “Danca Na Eira” (Portuguese Group) | 3:00 p.m. | Main Stage |
| Tympanic Plexas | 4:00 p.m. | Main Stage |
| David Sodano “Frank Sinatra Tribute” | 4:15 p.m. | Entertainment and Dining Tent |
| Juke Box Legends: Joe Leo and Billy Sagarese | 5:00 p.m. | Main Stage |
| Jersey Shore DJ Entertainment | 6:00 p.m. | Entertainment and Dining Tent |
This year’s parade Grand Marshall is Alan M. Floria.
“Every year we are faced with the difficult task of selecting one person from the many deserving candidates to serve as the ceremonial leader of our Parade and Italian Festival,” said Parade Chairman Michael Blandina. “After thoroughly reviewing and considering all the candidates I am proud to say that we have chosen Alan Floria as the Grand Marshal for this years 24th annual event.”
Floria, a local attorney, is a former president of the Brick UNICO chapter, an Italian-American service organization. He is also a member of the Knights of Columbus.
“His community involvement and especially his ties to the Italian community through-out the county and state, stood out among this years nominees,” Blandina added.
