73rd Annual Columbus Day Parade
This year’s parade is themed, “A Celebration of Italian-American Authors,” an initiative created by 2017 Grand Marshal, Founder and Chairman of Barnes & Noble Inc., Leonard Riggio, who will be leading the Parade with over 100 ItalianAmerican authors – including Gay Talese; Adriana Trigiani; David Baldacci; Lorenzo Carcaterra and Danny Aiello.
Our 2017 Honorees Dr. Laura Forese, EVP and COO, New York-Presbyterian and Thomas Iovino, founder of Judlau Enterprises, will join Riggio in leading the celebration.
West Point Academy’s Military Band will kick off the parade’s red carpet performances in traditional fashion with a performance of “The Flag Still Flies High.” Then throughout the parade’s three-hour broadcast on ABC-7, there will be a wide variety of red carpet acts including:
2014 “Italian Voice” winner Sister Cristina
“America’s Got Talent” 2017 Semi-finalist Christian Guardino
Carnegie Hall and Broadway performer Francesca Capetta “The Voice of Romance” Franco Corso The Italian Fairy” Simona Rodano, Pop performer Alyssa Lynn Fan favorite Angelo Venuto Girl group The Sirens “This One’s For the Girls” cast performance The impact of Italy will be felt throughout the parade, as the Line of March will be filled with classic Alfa Romeos. The Parade will also include Italian delegations from Abruzzo, Sicily, Umbria, and Frosinone. Spectators will continue to feel the culture and traditions of Italy come alive on Fifth Avenue as they see a spectacular costumed processional march of a traditional Quintana from Umbria and actor/director Massimiliano Finazzer Flory in costume as renowned Italian musician Giuseppe Verdi.