Brick Township, NJ - The Ocean County Columbus Day Parade Committee is pleased to announce that we have another folkloric group direct from Italy participating in the 32nd Annual Columbus Day Parade and at the Italian Festival. The group, "Citta’ dei Trulli" is from Alberobello, a small town in the Metropolitan City of Bari with just over 10,000 residents. It is in the Region of Puglia, in southern part of Italy. They will arrive in the United States on October 4th 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 8th with the festival running for 3 days, from Friday, October 6th through Sunday, October 8th.

"We will be celebrating 32 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-three years, we will once again be bringing in a special 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 honor to have in Ocean County, New Jersey, this talented group "Citta’ dei Trulli" 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 "Citta’ dei Trulli" 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 32nd year. It takes a year to prepare and raise the funds for all that goes on during this special 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," said Chairman Blandina. Adding, "Their efforts have made the Parade and Italian Festival a reality for more than a quarter of a century."

"Citta’ dei Trulli" consists of approximately 40 members, divided between dancers and musicians. This group was founded in 1928 to represent their regions traditions, costumes, dances and songs. All of members of the group are very experienced singers and dancers. The groups beautiful costumes are typical of years gone by, in their region of Italy. This group is under the direction of their President Nino Agostino and has performed both nationally in Italy and Internationally around the world. They will be joined on this trip by the Mayor of Alberobello, the Honorable Francesco De Carlo. Since 1966, this town has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site because of the unique cone shaped buildings through-out the town.

This group comes to Ocean County, New Jersey for the first time 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 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.