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The world’s largest celebration of Italian-American culture – New York’s 67th Columbus Day Parade – is on Fifth Avenue.

The spirit of exploration, the struggles and triumphs of immigrants who helped build the United States, and the vibrant heritage and cultural wealth of the Italian-American community will be celebrated in New York during Columbus Celebration 2011, from Friday, October 7 through Monday, October 10.

Columbus Celebration 2011 events include a black-tie Gala Dinner in the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, the traditional wreath laying at Columbus Circle, a solemn Mass celebrated by His Excellency, Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan, and the New York’s 67th Columbus Day Parade, on Fifth Avenue.

Columbus Day Parade 2011 will begin Monday, October 10, at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time, lasting until about 3:00 p.m.

New York’s Columbus Day Parade starts on Fifth Avenue at 44th Street and continues up Fifth to 79th Street.

Columbus Day Parade 2011 will begin Monday, October 10, at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time, lasting until about 3:00 p.m

Columbus Day Parade 2011 will begin Monday, October 10, at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time, lasting until about 3:00 p.m

The annual Columbus Day Parade is the world’s largest celebration of Italian-American heritage and culture and is broadcast on six continents, and the Gala Dinner brings together leaders of the United States and Italy for an evening that pays tribute to a centuries-old bond. The parade and dinner are just two of the events that are part of New York’s Columbus Celebration, held each October.

On October 12, 1929, New York City businessman and Italian immigrant Generoso Pope led a parade from East Harlem down to Columbus Circle. The parade celebrated Christopher Columbus’s explorations and the achievements and contributions of Italian-Americans to the landscape of New York and the United States. It was followed by a fund-raising dinner to benefit immigrants creating a new life for themselves in New York City.

Through sponsorships of the Columbus Day Parade, exhibitions and Gala Dinner, the Columbus Citizens Foundation raises millions of dollars to support the education of Italian-American students who have the drive to succeed in school and beyond, but not the means to reach their potential.

The annual Gala Dinner is a tradition that dates back to 1944, the year the Columbus Citizens Foundation’s predecessor organization was incorporated. On the weekend before Columbus Day, Foundation members and their guests meet in the Waldorf Astoria Grand Ballroom for an evening of friendship and entertainment that celebrates the strong bonds between Italy and the United States while raising funds for scholarships.

During the evening, the Foundation pays tribute to the year’s honorees and the Grand Marshal of the Columbus Day Parade. These men and women share several characteristics: they are leaders in their chosen fields, they are deeply committed to their families, and they are grateful for the opportunities their families have received in America, as well as the Italian heritage that they hold dear.

The ballroom stage has seen performances by exceptional singers from many categories of music: American Idol and pop star Katharine McPhee, opera tenor Salvatore Licitra, entertainer Joe Piscopo, and scores of other outstanding talents.

Columbus Day Parade 2011 will be aired on WABC-TV New York from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. in a live broadcast.

Countries in the New World celebrate the anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the Americas on October 12, 1492, as an official holiday.

The event is celebrated as Columbus Day in the United States, as Día de la Raza in many countries in Latin America, as Discovery Day in the Bahamas, as Día de la Hispanidad and Fiesta Nacional in Spain and as Día de las Américas (Day of the Americas) in Uruguay. Columbus Day has been celebrated unofficially since the late 18th century, and officially in various areas since the early 20th century.

In US, Columbus Day is celebrated annually on the second Monday of October.

This holiday is controversial because the European settlement in the Americas led to the demise of the history and culture of the indigenous peoples.

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Monday, October 10, is Columbus Day 2011 and many banks, state and local offices as well as U.S. post offices will be closed. In New York, the Columbus Day Parade will begin at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time, lasting until about 3:00 p.m.

New York’s Columbus Day Parade starts on Fifth Avenue at 44th Street and continues up Fifth to 79th Street.

A Columbus Day Mass will take place at St. Patrick’s Cathedral at 50th Street and Fith Avenue at 9:30 a.m. on Monday.

The Columbus Citizens Foundation has been organizing New York’s Columbus Day Parade since 1929.

More than 35,000 participate in the Columbus Day Parade each year, including more than 100 groups sporting floats, bands and an assortment of entries. About one million spectators view the parade – including almost 500,000 lining the streets to watch live – and it is among the largest celebrations of Italian-American culture in the world.

The Columbus Citizens Foundation has been organizing New York's Columbus Day Parade since 1929

The Columbus Citizens Foundation has been organizing New York's Columbus Day Parade since 1929

Traditionally, Columbus Day is held on the second Monday in October.

The first record of an event commemorating Columbus Day in the United States was on October 12, 1792.

Columbus Day celebrates the anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ “discovering” Americas.

Columbus arrived in the Americas on October 12, 1492. Observance of Columbus Day varies throughout the United States. It became an official holiday in Colorado in 1906, and a federal holiday in 1937, although Hawaii and South Dakota do not recognize Columbus Day at all.

In New York, and in other cities around the country, Columbus Day celebration is a big, annual event, however.

Columbus Day Parade is one of the New York City’s annual big events

Columbus Day Parade is one of the New York City’s annual big events

 

Regarding this year’s Columbus Day Parade in New York Columbus Citizens Foundation said in a press release:

“On October 10, 2011, Fifth Avenue will be transformed during the Columbus Day Parade, the world’s largest celebration of Italian-American culture. The parade was led by Grand Marshal Joseph Plumeri, proud philanthropist, and Chairman and CEO of Willis Group Holdings.

“The Columbus Day Parade is a fun filled parade that gets bigger and better every year. Participants from all over the world march in our Parade with pride.

“This is already a special year for us, as we have invited and received confirmation from some of the most talented performers. Pia Toscano (American Idol Favorite) as well as the Italian Musical, “The Italian Fairy” are just some of the notable performers. The Sacred Heart University Marching Band as well as Stony Brook University Marching Band will be just a few of our new and exciting musical acts in the Parade. This year, the Parade will be marching up Fifth Avenue from 44th to 72nd Street. The grandstands will be located on Fifth Avenue between 67th and 69th Streets.

“The parade celebrates the spirit of exploration and courage that inspired Christopher Columbus’s 1492 expedition and the important contributions Italian-Americans have made to the United States. Over a dozen high school bands, as well as virtuosi professional groups from the United States and Italy, marched up Fifth Avenue and filled the canyons of midtown with joyous, heart-pounding music. Traditional folk groups performed centuries-old dances, and cutting-edge designs were brought to the parade route in displays of the vibrant culture that is Italy today.”