Brooklyn's 32nd Annual Columbus Day Parade Slated For October 12

Source: Team at Carnaval.com Studios via Wikimedia Commons

The Federation of Italian American Organizations (FIAO) of Brooklyn will honor its Italian heritage and celebrate their community during the 32nd Annual Columbus Day Parade, October 12. The parade will stretch along 18th Avenue-Cristoforo Colombo Boulevard from 61st Street to 84th Street.

Local bands, floats, antique cars, Italian dancers, and a band hailing straight out of Rome will all be a part of this yearly rain-or-shine tradition, which will also feature local schools, scouting groups and a number of Italian-American organizations.

This year’s Grand Marshals are Lenny Tillman, businessman; Rev. Michael Gelfant, pastor, St. Finbar Roman Catholic Church; Luigi Rosabianca, attorney; Josephine Sportella-Giusto, principal of PS 682.

Parade day kicks off at 10:15 a.m. with a Mass celebrated by Msgr. David Cassato at St. Athanasius Church, Bay Parkway and 61st Street, followed by a light breakfast across the street in the school building. The parade steps off, promptly at 1:00 p.m., led by the Theodore Roosevelt JROTC from Rome and the Grand Marshals.

According to parade organizers, “The main focus of FIAO is service to the community, which is exhibited by the success of the programs with which we are involved. There are programs for children of all ages everyday and on weekends at numerous sites in our neighborhood.”

Among the myriad programs FIAO of Brooklyn offers are the FIAO Beacon Community Center at Seth Low-IS 96 (99 Avenue P between West 11th Street and West 12th Street), Cornerstone at Marlboro Housing, Advantage After School, as well as a soccer program for boys and girls at various age levels.

FIAO Brooklyn also sponsors and provides dance, art, language and culture programs for all ages; assistance to elderly and those in need; help for Superstorm Sandy victims, in addition to graffiti clean-ups and tree-plantings.

To learn more, or for additional information about the parade, contact Nancy Sottile of FIAO at (718) 259-2828, visit www.fiaobrooklyn.org or email info@fiaobrooklyn.org.