The Long Branch Columbus Day Parade is schedule for Sun., Oct. 13 at 1 p.m. The rain date is Sun., Oct. 20.
The Columbus Day Parade has a long history in the city of Long Branch dating back to 1946. Organizers said the city is the perfect setting for the parade because of the diverse nationalities who live there.
For the last 19 years, Joseph Mercadante has been the parade’s chairman and sponsors the parade with the help of the city of Long Branch.
This year’s Grand Marshal is the Rev. Dr. Robert Prescott-Ezickson, senior pastor of the First Baptist Church of Long Branch. He is also a senior adjunct online Professor of Theology for Grand Canyon University and Grand Canyon Theological Seminary and an author. He has served as president for the Long Branch Ministerium as well as one of the chaplains for the Long Branch Police Department.
This year the parade will step off at 1 p.m. and follow a route beginning at the Long Branch Middle School will march up Bath Avenue, right on Broadway and down Morris Avenue and back to Long Branch Middle School.
The parade will consist of several local high school bands, from Long Branch, Shore Regional, Monmouth Regional, Ocean, as well as other festival bands. There will also be motorcycles, antique cars, floats from area businesses, Boy/Girl Scout Troops, and Local, State and County Officials.
For more information, please contact Joseph Mercadante at 732-233-7579 or jmforino@gmail.com.
