The 2014 Italian Festival in Seaside Heights. (Photo: Parade/Festival Committee)
The annual Italian Street Festival in Seaside Heights kicks off Friday and lasts through Sunday, with the signature event – as always – coming in the form of the Ocean County Columbus Day Parade, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
The festival will be held Friday, from 4 to 10 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 pm, and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m on Grant Avenue in Seaside Heights.
Savor a “weekend of delectable Italian specialties,” organizers say, plus arts and crafts, outstanding entertainment and a parade that is bound to delight young and old alike. The 25th annual Columbus Day Parade starts at 1 p.m. Sunday on the Boulevard. This year’s parade will include a performance by the Italian folk group La Takkarata.
Here is the full calendar of events for the weekend:
Friday:
| 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 |
| Kim Jenkins – “Strictly 60’s” | 6:00 p.m. | Main Stage |
| Folkloric Group “La Takkarata” (From Italy) | 7:45 p.m. | Main Stage |
Saturday
| 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 |
| Patsy Palma | 1:30 p.m. | Entertainment and Dining Tent |
| Jersey Shore DJ Entertainment | 2:30 p.m. | Entertainment and Dining Tent |
| Folkloric Group “La Takkarata” (From Italy) | 2:45 p.m. | Main Stage |
| Patsy Palma | 3:00 p.m. | Entertainment and Dining Tent |
| Julian & Dominique | 4:00 p.m. | Main Stage |
| Jimmy Bono Geany | 4:00 p.m. | Entertainment and Dining Tent |
| Strolling Metropolitan Festival Band | 6:00 p.m. | Along Grant Ave & Ocean Terr |
| The Cameo’s | 6:00 p.m. | Main Stage |
| Jersey Shore DJ Entertainment | 6:00 p.m. | Entertainment and Dining Tent |
| Juke Box Legends: Joe Leo and Billy Sagarese | 6:45 p.m. | Entertainment and Dining Tent |
| Folkloric Group “La Takkarata” (From Italy) | 7:45 p.m. | Main Stage |
| Jersey Shore DJ Entertainment | 8:45 p.m. | Entertainment and Dining Tent |
Sunday
| 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 |
| 25th ANNUAL OCEAN COUNTYCOLUMBUS DAY PARADE | 1:00 P.M. | THE BOULEVARD |
| Jimmy Bono Geany | 2:00 p.m. | Entertainment and Dining Tent |
| Strolling Minstrel | 2:30 p.m. | Along Grant Ave & Ocean Terr |
| Folkloric Group “La Takkarata” (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 | 6:00 p.m. | Main Stage |
| Jersey Shore DJ Entertainment | 6:00 p.m. | Entertainment and Dining Tent |
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