Mon 10/9 @ 10AM-1PM
Columbus Day has increasingly been viewed as a politically incorrect holiday that celebrating invasion, genocide and colonialism, and advocacy for replacing it with an Indigenous Peoples Day has been spreading. In fact, Columbus, Ohio, which is named after the Italian explorer frequently credited with “discovering America,” has made the change.
But in the Italian community, the day is still a cause for celebration, albeit not as big as The Feast in August, another big party with tenuous connections to its roots. (Ask the average Feastgoer what the “Assumption” is. Go ahead; we’ll wait.)
The Columbus Day party starts with a mass at Holy Rosary Church from 10-11am with a parade starting at noon. They’re defiantly promising a bigger-than-ever parade with more than 100 organizations, businesses and schools represented, with floats, marching bands and dancers paying tribute to Italian culture. After that you can hang out and check out one of the area’s many eateries and shops which will be open all day.
It’s free. Get parking information here.