Columbus festivities
COLUMBUS DAY UNITY PARADE & TWO FREE MARINE BAND CONCERTS ON TAP FOR BRIDGEPORT’S COLUMBUS WEEKEND CELEBRATION
With special recognition to fallen Bridgeport firefighters Lt. Steven Velasquez and Michel Baik
Rain or Shine, the annual BRIDGEPORT COLUMBUS DAY UNITY PARADE sponsored by the Council of Italian-American Societies of Greater Bridgeport kicks-off on Sunday, October 10, 2010. Starting at 1:00 P.M. at the corner of Wayne Street and Jewett Avenue, the parade will head south on to Madison Avenue where it will end at Beers Street at the entrance to the parking lot of Central High School.
Under the banner “Diverse Cultures Strengthen Freedom” this year’s parade includes the 2d Marine Division Band, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, local high school bands, the Park City Pride Sr. Drum & Bugle Corps, the Fairfield Gaelic Pipe Band, fife and drum corps, various ethnic dance teams, clowns from the Ringling Bros. & Barnum & Bailey Circus, classic cars, floats, the Pyramid Shriners mini cycles, area dignitaries, area police and fire departments and much more.
In an effort to express the grateful appreciation of the Greater Bridgeport community, and to commemorate the bravery and selfless commitment to their fellow human beings, this year’s parade is dedicated to the two fallen Bridgeport firefighters Lt. Steven Velasquez and Michel Baik who died in the line of duty on July 24, 2010.
In addition to the annual parade, The 2d Marine Division Band “Musical Ambassadors” for the Corps will perform TWO FREE CONCERTS on Friday, October 8 and Saturday, October 9 at the Klein Memorial, 910 Fairfield Avenue in Bridgeport at 7:00 P.M. for each concert. Doors will open both evenings at 6:00 P.M.
Spanning the continental United States, the musicians of the 2d Marine Division Band entertain audiences at more than two-hundred and twenty-five performances each year. Patriotic favorites, familiar marches, traditional classics, big band sounds, jazz, country and popular contemporary music are on tap for this year’s performances in Bridgeport. This year, a special musical selection will be performed at each concert in honor of the two Bridgeport firefighters Lt. Steven Velasquez and Michel Baik.
FREE CONCERTS INFORMATION
2d Marine Division Band
Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
“Musical Ambassadors for the Corps”DATES: Friday, October 8 and Saturday, October 9, 2010 – Two free concerts starting at 7:00 P.M. for each evening (doors open at 6:00 P.M. each evening)
PLACE: Klein Memorial Auditorium, 910 Fairfield Avenue, Bridgeport, Connecticut
COST: FREE. TICKETS REQUIRED – beginning on Monday, September 27 pick up tickets at Lupe’s Drug Store, 3129 Main Street, Bridgeport – Ticket Information (203) 374-0600
SPECIAL REQUEST:
We are asking that all concert goers (for both concerts) bring non-perishable food items with them to the Klein.
The collected items will be distributed by the Office of Veteran Affairs for the City of Bridgeport to those veterans in need.
PARADE INFORMATION
DATE: Sunday, October 10 – rain or shine – starting at 1:00 P.M.
ROUTE: Beginning at Wayne and Jewett Avenue proceeding south on to Madison Avenue and ending at Beers Street – at the entrance to the parking lot at Central High School
INFO: Russ & Joan Palaia, Parade Chairpersons at (203) 375-4741
