Brick Township, NJ -The Ocean County Columbus Day Parade Committee is pleased to announce that we are bringing in another special folkloric group direct from Italy to participate in the 33rd Annual Columbus Day Parade and at the Italian Festival. The group, "I Cantori Popolari Delle Isole Eolie" is a folk group and originates from the Aeolian Island, a volcanic archipelago in the Tyrrhenian Sea. These islands are north of Sicily, in southern Italy. They will arrive for their first time in the United States on October 9th 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 13th with the festival running for 3 days, from Friday, October 11th through Sunday, October 13th.

"We will be celebrating 33 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-four 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 "I Cantori Popotari Delle Isole Eolie" 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 "I Cantori Popolari Delle Isole Eolie" 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 33rd 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 year after year" said Chairman Blandina. Adding, "Their efforts have made the Parade and Italian Festival a reality for more than a quarter of a century."

"I Cantori Popolari Delle Isole Eolie" consists of approximately 40 members. This folk group was founded in 1977 in Canneto of Lipari by Antonino Alessandro. As their artistic director he was concerned with preserving the traditional sounds and cultural heritage of the Aeolian Islands, which are at risk of being lost. The groups music consists of a blend of traditional instruments, such as the tambourine, accordion, guitar and mandolin along with polyphonic vocal arrangements. These songs very often tell stories of daily life, love, the sea and the natural beauty of the islands. Very often they reflect on the experiences and emotions of the islanders.

Currently under the leadership of their President Joe (Giuseppe) Bianchi and Artistic Director Antonino Alessandro this group has brought the unique sounds of their homeland to audiences in Italy and Internationally. Their costumes are also an example of the group’s enthusiasm and pride in the cultural traditions of their homeland. For all their efforts the group has received recognition for their dedication to preserve their musical and theatrical heritage and has been honored with various awards and accolades in the field of folk music.

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 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.