Ocean County
Columbus Day Parade
and Italian Festival
**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
Contact: Mario Marano,
Groups & Organizations Chairman for the Ocean County Columbus Day Parade
732-914-0351 or pinocchio3@juno.com
GROUP PERFORMING AT SHORE COLUMBUS DAY WEEK
WINS NATIONAL ITALIAN CHAMPIONSHIP
TOMS RIVER, NJ -- The medieval flag waving group from Italy, the
Citta' di Piansano," which will be appearing in Ocean County over Columbus
Day week, just won the national competition of the Italian Flagwavers
League, held Sept 21-23 in Citta' della Pieve, Perugia, Umbria, Italia.
The Italian champions will bring the official standard (banner) they
are privileged to carry at each exhibition for the next year with them for
their appearances at the Jersey Shore over Columbus Day week. The Citta'
di Piansano is 50 members strong and features flag wavers, trumpeters,
standard bearers and knights and ladies in full medieval dress. The wavers
perform intricate, aerial maneuvers with their flags. A group composed of
representatives from various Italian flag waving organizations was seen at
the closing of the 2002 Winter Olympics.
According to Mario Marano, Toms River, a Columbus Day parade official
who serves an interpreter and escort for the Citta' di Piansano, a partial
public appearance schedule includes:
Oct. 11, Italian Flag Raising ceremony at the County Administration
Building, 101 Hooper Avenue, Toms River. They will march through town at
11:30 a.m., attend the ceremony at noon and perform behind 119 Hooper Ave.
at approximately 12:45 p.m.
Oct. 13, they will march in the Ocean County Columbus Day parade with
a 1 p.m. kick-off on the Boulevard, Seaside Heights, marching north
starting from the Seaside Park border.
They also will make appearances at the Oct. 11 - 13 Italian Street
Festival in Seaside Heights: Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
and at the conclusion of the parade in front of the reviewing stand on
Sunday.
Any organization of business willing to host the group for a meal or
activity should contact Morano at 732-914-0351.
Freeholder Director Joseph H. Vicari said, "We are honored to welcome
the Citta' di Piansano. While they already had excellent competitive
credentials, their arrival as Italy's reigning national champions is a
pleasant and unexpected enhancement to their visit."
