Binghamton's Columbus Day Parade & Italian Festival

Monday, October 14th is Columbus Day, and locally that means it is time for the Annual Columbus Day Parade and Italian Festival in Downtown Binghamton.

On October 9th, Binghamton Mayor Jared Kraham and members of Binghamton’s Italian-American community announced the details of this year's festival and parade.

The raising of the Italian flag will occur at 9 a.m. on Monday to kick off the day's festivities outside of Binghamton City Hall, including a performance by Tri-Cities Opera singer Sergio Mandujano.

The parade which is one of the most popular of the year in the Southern Tier, will begin at the intersection of Main and Arthur Streets, Binghamton at 10 a.m., with the Binghamton High School Steel Drum Band leading the music segment. The parade will proceed east and end at the Broome County Courthouse. This year's parade marshal will be former Binghamton Mayor Rich Bucci.

This year's Tournament of Marching Bands features six bands competing, including local schools - Union-Endicott, Johnson City, Chenango Forks, and Whitney Point, along with the Williamson Marching Warriors from Tioga, Pennsylvania, and the Athens Area Schools Marching Wildcats from Athens, Pennsylvania.

According to the announcement from Mayor Kraham, the high school bands will be judged on music, color guard, and drum major performances.

For more than six decades, this event has brought residents and visitors to downtown Binghamton for live music and family-friendly entertainment. The festivities are a chance to celebrate our area’s proud Italian-American community and showcase some of the region’s most talented young musicians with the Tournament of Marching Bands. My thanks to the volunteers who have worked alongside the City to keep this tradition going. - Binghamton Mayor Jared Kraham

The popular Italian Festival will also be the highlight of the day from 9:30 a..m. to 2 p.m., taking place at the usual location on Water Street, just off Court Street, next to Boscov's. This year's live music will be provided by Rooster and the Roadhouse Horns, and of course there will be delicious food for sale during the festival hours.