Italian Festival, Columbus Day Parade to Return Oct. 11-13 in Seaside Heights

The 2014 Italian Festival in Seaside Heights. (Photo: Parade/Festival Committee)

The annual Ocean County Columbus Day Parade and weekend-long Italian Festival, which begins in Seaside Park and is centered in Seaside Heights, will be held Oct. 11-3 this year.

The 33rd annual celebration will highlight Italian culture with a traditional street festival and an appearance by dignitaries from Italy.

“Experience the vibrant atmosphere with an array of fantastic vendors, live entertainment, and special guests flown in straight from Italy,” an announcement said.

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The bulk of the weekend’s events will take place along Grant Avenue near Ocean Terrace, where food vendors will line the street along with crafters and artists selling their wares. There will be entertainment all weekend long. The parade will proceed up the Boulevard Sunday, Oct. 13 at 1 p.m.

This year’s parade grand marshal is Stephanie Mongiello Wauters, who is best known for her longtime service as a Superior Court judge in Ocean County. Her grandparents immigrated to the United States around 1897 from the Italian Regions of Puglia and Campania, in the Provinces of Foggia and Avellino.

“Stephanie stood out among this year’s nominees because of her commitment to her Italian Heritage and Culture” said screening committee member Pam Santamaria. “We are confident that this extraordinary individual will uphold the fine tradition established by her predecessors. We are looking forward to having Stephanie lead our Thirty-third annual celebration as Grand Marshal during this year’s celebration.” Santamaria added.

Guests from Italy – Gruppo Folkcloristico “I Cantori Popolari delle Isole Eolie” – will perform at the festival this year.

The group, “I Cantori Popolari Delle Isole Eolie” is a folk group and originates from the Aeolian Island, a volcanic archipelago in the Tyrrhenian Sea. These islands are north of Sicily, in southern Italy. They will arrive for their first time in the United States on Oct. 9 and will be guests of the Ocean County Columbus Day Parade Committee.

“I Cantori Popolari Delle Isole Eolie” consists of approximately 40 members. This folk group was founded in 1977 in Canneto of Lipari by Antonino Alessandro. As their artistic director he was concerned with preserving the traditional sounds and cultural heritage of the Aeolian Islands, which are at risk of being lost. The groups music consists of a blend of traditional instruments, such as the tambourine, accordion, guitar and mandolin along with polyphonic vocal arrangements. These songs very often tell stories of daily life, love, the sea and the natural beauty of the islands. Very often they reflect on the experiences and emotions of the islanders.