Mayor Kraham Announces Details Of 67th Annual Columbus Day Parade, Italian Festival

Mayor Kraham Announces Details Of 67th Annual Columbus Day Parade, Italian Festival

- Five Schools Set To Compete In Parade's Annual Tournament Of Marching Bands -

(BINGHAMTON, N.Y.) - Mayor Jared M. Kraham joined members of Binghamton's Italian-American community Thursday to announce details of the Annual Columbus Day Parade and Italian Festival in downtown Binghamton on Monday, Oct. 12.

Mayor Kraham said: "For more than six decades, downtown Binghamton has come alive with this celebration, bringing families, friends and visitors together for music, food and fun. The event is a wonderful reflection of the Italian-American heritage that is such an important part of our community, while the Tournament of Marching Bands gives talented young musicians an opportunity to shine. We're grateful to the dedicated volunteers and community partners whose efforts continue to make this cherished tradition possible year after year."

Monday's festivities are scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. with the raising of the Italian flag outside Binghamton City Hall. The flag raising ceremony will include a performance by Tri-Cities Opera singer Kate Fogg.

The parade is set to start at 10 a.m. near the intersection of Main and Arthur streets. It will proceed east on Main Street, ending in front of the Broome County Courthouse.

This year's parade lineup will include local Italian fraternal organizations, police and fire agencies, antique vehicles and local sports organizations. The Binghamton High School Steel Drum Band will lead off the music segment of the parade.

Five high school marching bands will also participate in the parade and compete in the annual Tournament of Marching Bands. The tournament judges marching bands on music, color guard and drum major performances.

This year's Tournament of Marching Bands will feature bands from three Broome County high schools: Union-Endicott, Johnson City and Whitney Point. Two Pennsylvania bands will also compete: the Williamson Marching Warriors from Tioga, Penn. and the Athens Area Schools Marching Wildcats from Athens, Penn.

Judges for the competition will be stationed on Court Street between Water Street and State Street.

The Italian Festival will take place on Water Street near Court Street from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., with live music from Rooster and the Roadhouse Horns after the parade. Food will be for sale during the festival.

This year's parade grand marshal is Binghamton Attorney Carman Garufi. A proud Italian-American with family roots in Italy and close ties to relatives in Sicily, Carman has been actively involved in the local Italian-American community for many years. He is a member of UNICO, the nation's largest Italian-American service organization, the Sons of Italy and the Knights of Columbus. He also has been a longtime supporter of local Italian-American traditions, including sponsoring the Columbus Day Parade and St. Mary's Bazaar.

Garufi Law P.C. is once again sponsoring the parade.