PITTSBURGH — Despite the weather and light rain, there was a modest turnout at the Columbus Day Parade that was held on Saturday in Pittsburgh’s Bloomfield neighborhood.
Pittsburgh Steelers great and NFL Hall of Fame running back Franco Harris served as the Grand Marshal.
The parade started on Liberty Avenue near West Penn Hospital and continued through Bloomfield to the Bloomfield Bridge.
The family-friendly event featured more than 100 bands, floats, organizations and businesses, and recognized the contributions of the region’s Italian population.
According to the parade organizer, Tony Ferraro, the Pittsburgh Columbus Day Parade is a more than 30-year tradition and has served as one of the nation’s longest-standing parades to honor Italian heritage and recognize the work of Italian explorer, Christopher Columbus.
“This year’s parade is truly special, as we all work together to emerge from a global pandemic. Pittsburgh is known the world over as a symbol of hard work, acceptance and accomplishment,” said Ferraro. “We are especially honored to recognize Franco Harris as a shining example of the kind of community we strive to be.”
Pittsburgh’s Italian population is estimated to be the fifth-largest in America by the Italian Sons & Daughters of America (ISDA) Western Pennsylvania District, the parade’s host and sponsor. ISDA is one of the largest and most prominent Italian American organizations in the country, celebrating Italian culture and preserving Italian traditions.
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