Article, Photos and Video: Len Rapoport
Columbus Day Parade 2016
I have covered many parades over the past few years. Either poor weather or other commitments stopped me from covering this parade in the past, October has been cold and wet over the years. Luckily this year, the Columbus Day Parade 2016 the parades 72nd year, was the one I would attend. It was the most beautiful sunny day and I knew that Sal Valentinetti would be one of the stars of the parade.
Sal Valentinetti was one of the finalists on this years America’s Got Talent show and has already become a household name because if his beautiful Frank Sinatra style and vocals.
Now the Columbus Day Parade is one of the most popular NYC parades and this year it was estimated that thirty-five thousand marched in the parade and millions watched it on 5th Ave. between 44th and 72nd Streets and of course on television. All that attended were either Italian or honorary Italians for the day.
There were floats, bands and over 100 groups participating all showing their Italian pride by waving Italian flags and wearing the Italian colors of red, white and green. Many floats had their team throwing tee shirts to the spectators while others gave away Italian flags and gelato ice cream.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan
I decided to take up a spot in front of St. Patrick’s Cathedral where I could shoot photos and videos of the parade and Cardinal Timothy Dolan as marches stopped to pay their respects to the Cardinal and other religious dignitaries to get their blessing.
Although I arrived early for the parade, it took over an hour to get close to the parade route from the Lincoln Tunnel so I missed the first 30 minutes of the parade, but luckily there was so much to see and watch in the four hour parade that I know next year to start out even earlier.
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