Borough President James Oddo was pleased to join with Mount Loretto to present the first annual "Festa Italiana at The Mount: The Biggest Columbus Day Celebration in Staten Island’s History," on the weekend of October 7-9th. Over ten thousand people attended the three-day festival.
The opening night featured a “decades concert” that showcased music from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Local bands Airtite, Illegally Blind and Radio Daze also performed.
On Saturday, the Susan Wagner High School Marching Band led a procession with Christopher Columbus, from the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum, to kick off the festivities.
The day featured many acts, including local artists Alex Leonard , Vinnie Medugno, and Charlie Romo. Candice Guardino and her Italian Bred Comedy Show, the Staten Island Shakespearean Theatre Company, and the Giglio Band also performed for the crowd of 10,000 people. The headlining act, Louis Prima Jr. and the Witnesses, took the stage at 6:30 for a rockin’ performance sponsored by Lois and Richard Nicotra.
Rounding out the weekend on Sunday, there was a live performance by the Italian-American Band R3, as well as performances by local musicians. Over the course of the three-day event, guests were offered delicious food, rides and attractions, carnival games, and vendors.
Saturday also featured educational displays from local cultural groups, including the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum, the National Lighthouse Museum, NYC Compost Project/Snug Harbor, Historic Richmond Town, The Hilton, the National Organization of Italian American Women, Capodanno Lodge, Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America, and the Federated Garden Clubs of New York State.
“It was great to see so many joyous Staten Islanders out at Mount Loretto for Festa Italiana,” noted BP Oddo. “It is always a pleasure to see people celebrating their culture and enjoying what Staten Island has to offer. We said it would be the biggest Columbus Day celebration in Staten Island’s history, and we weren’t kidding!”
Special thanks to Arirang, Broadway Stages, Campagna & Sons, CTV, Gerald Peters Gold Mine Jewelers, Grand Plaza, Historic Richmond Town, HealthFirst, Italian American Women of Staten Island, Italian Bred, Lois & Richard Nicotra, Mark Tranchina/Vanderbilt/Grand Oaks/South Fin, Project One, Richmond University Medical Center, Senator Diane Savino, ShopRite, and South Fin Grill for helping to make the event a success.
The opening night featured a “decades concert” that showcased music from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Local bands Airtite, Illegally Blind and Radio Daze also performed.
On Saturday, the Susan Wagner High School Marching Band led a procession with Christopher Columbus, from the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum, to kick off the festivities.
The day featured many acts, including local artists Alex Leonard , Vinnie Medugno, and Charlie Romo. Candice Guardino and her Italian Bred Comedy Show, the Staten Island Shakespearean Theatre Company, and the Giglio Band also performed for the crowd of 10,000 people. The headlining act, Louis Prima Jr. and the Witnesses, took the stage at 6:30 for a rockin’ performance sponsored by Lois and Richard Nicotra.
Rounding out the weekend on Sunday, there was a live performance by the Italian-American Band R3, as well as performances by local musicians. Over the course of the three-day event, guests were offered delicious food, rides and attractions, carnival games, and vendors.
Saturday also featured educational displays from local cultural groups, including the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum, the National Lighthouse Museum, NYC Compost Project/Snug Harbor, Historic Richmond Town, The Hilton, the National Organization of Italian American Women, Capodanno Lodge, Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America, and the Federated Garden Clubs of New York State.
“It was great to see so many joyous Staten Islanders out at Mount Loretto for Festa Italiana,” noted BP Oddo. “It is always a pleasure to see people celebrating their culture and enjoying what Staten Island has to offer. We said it would be the biggest Columbus Day celebration in Staten Island’s history, and we weren’t kidding!”
Special thanks to Arirang, Broadway Stages, Campagna & Sons, CTV, Gerald Peters Gold Mine Jewelers, Grand Plaza, Historic Richmond Town, HealthFirst, Italian American Women of Staten Island, Italian Bred, Lois & Richard Nicotra, Mark Tranchina/Vanderbilt/Grand Oaks/South Fin, Project One, Richmond University Medical Center, Senator Diane Savino, ShopRite, and South Fin Grill for helping to make the event a success.
