Bethel Celebrates Columbus Day With 32nd Annual Parade

“In fourteen hundred ninety-two Columbus sailed the ocean blue.” We all know the popular poem but on Monday, Betheleites will get to see a reenactment, with Bethel entertainer and showman Billy Michael leading the festivities.

Michael will serve once again as Master of Ceremonies for the 32nd Annual Columbus Day Parade in downtown Bethel on Monday, Oct. 13. Joined by members of his entourage, the group will parade through the streets of Bethel in a big yellow boat, provided each year by Matt Caraluzzi.

“The flag raising began with the Ed Mills administration,” Michael told Patch, “and the parade component is at least 15 years old.”

The parade begins at Caraluzzi’s parking lot at 8:30 a.m. and proceeds out the back South Street exit. The parade continues down South St., turns right on to Depot Place and then on to Greenwood Ave. proceeding to P.T. Barnum Square.

At P.T. Barnum Square the Italian Flag will be raised to the sound of the Italian National Anthem at 9 a.m. The event was started in 1982 by the late First Selectmen Ed Mills and Gina Clarizio to honor those in Bethel of Italian descent.

Breakfast will follow the parade at the Sycamore Drive-In, 282 Greenwood Ave., with live music by Anthony Nazzarro and Billy Michael.

Patch file photo

Have a news tip? Email wendy.mitchell@ patch.com. You can also post your own news, events and announcements on Patch by following these directions. Curious about how our new commenting platform, Disqus, works? Learn more about it here and start interacting with your neighbors on Patch.