Brick Township, NJ - The Ocean County Columbus Day Parade Committee is pleased to announce that we are continuing our tradition of bringing in special folkloric groups direct from Italy to participate in the 34th Annual Columbus Day Parade and Italian Festival. The group, "I Canterini delle Riviera Jonica Melino Romolo" is a folk group from Roccalumera, a small town in the province of Messina. They will arrive for their first time in Eastern United States on October 7th and will be guests of the Ocean County Columbus Day Parade Committee. The parade will take place in Seaside Heights at 1:00 pm on Sunday, October 12th with the festival running for 3 days, from Friday, October 10th through Sunday, October 12th.

"We will be celebrating 34 years, and we are happy to say the Ocean County Columbus Day Parade and Italian Festival has become one of the most popular ethnic cultural festivals in the state," said Committee Chairman Michael Blandina. "As we have for past twenty-five years, we will once again be bringing in a very talented group of people from Italy to add an authentic spirit of Italian Heritage and Culture, as well as a taste of the homeland to these events. This year it is our pleasure to have for the first time in Ocean County, New Jersey, this talented group "Canterini della Riviera Jonica Melino Romolo" he added.

Chairman Blandina credits John Giavatto, International Relations Chairman for the Ocean County Columbus Day Parade and Italian Festival Committee, with continuing to arrange for groups like "Canterini della Riviera Jonica Melino Romolo" to attend these cultural events in Ocean County, New Jersey. While they are here the committee arranges day trips to Atlantic City, New York City and local destinations of interest for them. Additional performances are also scheduled around Ocean County to include senior communities and area high schools, before and after the parade and festival.

"The Ocean County Columbus Day Parade Committee is now making final preparations to celebrate our 34th year. It takes a year to prepare and raise the funds for all that goes on during this very special ethnic weekend. The committee which consists of a small group of individuals who are volunteers and give up hours of their time to make these events memorable, for those attending every year" said Chairman Blandina. Adding, "Their efforts have made the Parade and Italian Festival a reality for more than a quarter of a century."

"Canterini della Riviera Jonica Melino Romolo" consists of approximately 45 members and are under the direction of their President Francesco Fame. This folk group was founded in 1965 in Roccalumera, Messina by Melino Romolo and Sebastiano Totaro. Their goals and focus have primary been to spread the Sicilian Culture both through-out Italy and abroad. The primary focus of their music consists of songs of love, of work on land and sea and carnival songs with the famous "carretto siciliano" Sicilian cart. It quickly becomes clear during their performances that they are intent on giving the audience the heart and soul of the Sicilian people in a simple and exact way to preserve Sicilian folk traditions.

Their costumes are authentic early 19th century clothing worn by shepherds of the Peloritani mountains and reflect the traditions of rural and maritime life. The musical instruments that are used during their songs while dancing include the accordion, guitar, mandolin, friscaletto (flute), tambourine, marranzano (mouth harp), ciaramedda (bagpipe and quartara (jug).

This group comes to Ocean County, New Jersey at the invitation of the Ocean County Columbus Day Parade Committee and the Italian organizations from through-out Ocean and Monmouth Counties. There is still time to get involved with the Ocean County Columbus Day Parade and Italian Festival. The organizing committee is still seeking sponsors, groups and organizations to participate in the Parade. Participation in the Parade is free for most organizations and groups. The committee is also seeking volunteers who are community oriented to assist as Parade Marshals as well as other aspects of the 3-Day Event. For more information, please contact Chairman Michael Blandina at 732-477-6507