NEW YORK (WCBS 880) – Colorful floats will stream down Fifth Avenue on Monday as the city marks the return of an in-person Columbus Day Parade after last year’s event was held virtually because of the pandemic.
Italian pride will be on display along Fifth Avenue as more than 100 groups—made up of some 35,000 participants—march in the parade, which is expected to draw the most spectators of any parade since the pandemic began.
1010 WINS’ Juliet Papa will be among those hosting the broadcast for what is the largest Columbus Day Parade held in the U.S.
The 77th annual parade will kick off at 11:30 a.m., running from 47th to 72nd streets. There will be floats, musical bands and many Italian-American cultural institutions. Among the floats will be one honoring first responders as the city celebrates its comeback from the pandemic.
As is the usual custom, the parade will be led off by a line of Maserati cars carrying this year’s grand marshal, Michael Pascucci, chairman of Duck Pond Realty Associates.
“We hope that New Yorkers of all backgrounds will join us in celebrating the Italian American culture and our community’s many accomplishments,” said Marian Pardo, the president of the parade’s organizer, the Columbus Citizens Foundation.
“While celebrating our achievements, we recognize the courage and accomplishments of all the immigrant communities that make our city and our country great,” Pardo said. “Having been the first parade in 2001 to follow the tragic events of 9/11, we are especially proud to once again lead the city in celebrating the nation’s strength, our rebounding from that tragedy and the tragedy of Covid but most especially leading in creating a union among us all, staying true to our Parade’s themes of resilience, recovery and reunion.”
Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov. Kathy Hochul will be among the elected leaders in attendance. Cardinal Dolan will also celebrate Columbus Day Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
Participants were putting the finishing touches on the green, white and red floats on W. 47th Street early Monday morning.
Among them was teamster Andrew Iglio, who was driving a concrete mixing truck towing the Casa family float. He said that after last year’s cancellation, it is great to be back.
“We are proud of our heritage, just like everyone else,” Iglio said. “There has to be a parade—and I say this with all due respect—this is Columbus Day. No disrespect to Indigenous people. This is Columbus Day. I’m a proud Italian American.”
The festivities come as Columbus' legacy and holiday remain a contentious issue in the five boroughs and across the U.S. On Friday, President Joe Biden issued the first presidential proclamation of “Indigenous Peoples’ Day,” the most significant boost yet to efforts to refocus the federal holiday celebrating Columbus.
De Blasio, who is an Italian American, will march despite his support of changing Columbus Day on the public-school calendar to Italian Heritage Day/Indigenous Peoples' Day.
And the mayor is welcome to attend, said Angelo Vivolo, chairman of the Columbus Citizens Foundation.
“Politics aside, today is a day of celebration for Italian-American culture and heritage,” Vivolo said. “We welcome everyone to march in the parade.”
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