The 35th annual Ocean County Columbus Day Parade and Italian Festival is set to open Friday in Seaside Heights, with a three-day festival on Grant Avenue and a parade down the Boulevard on Sunday.
The festival will run from 4 to 10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. The parade steps off at 1 p.m. Sunday on the Boulevard. Organizers say it will feature floats, bands, antique cars, contests and clowns.
“We work hard each year to make the Columbus Day Parade and Italian Festival better than the year before,” said parade chairman Michael Blandina. “This year’s Parade and Italian Festival will hopefully meet your expectations and continue to improve upon past successes.”
Entertainment
This year’s folkloric group is Pro Loco Castrovillari, from Castrovillari in Calabria, Italy. The group is scheduled to perform on the main stage Friday at 5:15 p.m. and Saturday at noon and 4:45 p.m. It will appear at the reviewing stand Sunday at 2:45 p.m.
Opening ceremonies are set for 6 p.m. Friday on the main stage. Other main stage acts include:
Singer Jimmy Bono Geany is scheduled for multiple sets all three days in the entertainment and dining tent, beginning at 5 p.m. Friday. Mia & Frank perform in the tent Friday at 6:15 p.m. and at the reviewing stand Sunday at 11 a.m. Patsy Palma performs in the tent Saturday at 3 p.m. B & G Entertainment takes the tent Sunday at 1 p.m., followed by Tomardo at 3:30 p.m.
The Strolling Metropolitan Festival Band will perform along Grant Avenue and Ocean Terrace at 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday. Organizers note that acts are subject to change without notice.
The Italian groups invited to the festival date to 1997, when Gruppo Sbandieratori e Musici of Quattro Castella performed. Last year’s group was Canterini della Riviera Jonica Melino Romolo, of Roccalumera, Sicily.
Family named grand marshals
Ray and Dawn Marzarella and their family will serve as grand marshals of the parade. It is the first time the parade committee has chosen a family for the honor. The couple met as students at Saint Francis College in Loretto, Pennsylvania, in 1979. They lived in Lakewood for more than four decades, raising their children, Kristin, Ray-Ray and Matthew. They recently moved to Wall Township with Matthew.
Ray Marzarella owns and is president of All County Exteriors, a family-owned business serving Ocean and Monmouth counties. The company has appeared on the television series “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.”
The family is active in charitable work. The Marzarellas helped in the early growth of POAC Autism Services, a Brick Township nonprofit. Matthew was named the group’s Ambassador of Autism, which the committee said made him the first person in the country to receive that honor. Dawn Marzarella sits on POAC’s board of trustees and previously served as vice president. She also serves on the advisory board of Monmouth County’s Allaire Community Farm.
Raffle
The committee is selling tickets for a fall 50/50 cash raffle, with a single prize of up to $5,000 and half of the proceeds going to the winner. Ticket sales are capped at 100, and each costs $100. The drawing is scheduled for 9 p.m. Monday at Klee’s Bar & Grill, 101 Boulevard, Seaside Heights. Tickets are available by calling 732-477-6507.
Road Closures
The Boulevard, from J Street in Seaside Park to Sampson Avenue in Seaside Heights, will be closed during the time the parade is underway.
Grant Avenue will be closed since the festival is set up along the street, from the Boulevard to Ocean Terrace.