Nutley-Belleville Columbus Day, Italian Heritage Celebration Returns

BELLEVILLE-NUTLEY, NJ — The 40th annual Nutley-Belleville Columbus Day and Italian Heritage Month festivities will take place on Sunday, Oct. 9.

According to a news release from Nutley township, here are three things you should know about this year’s festivities:

PARADE – The Columbus Day & Italian Heritage Month Parade will kick off at Belleville High School at 1:30 p.m. The parade route will travel along Joralemon Street, turn at Franklin Avenue, and continue to the Nutley Park Oval.

GRAND MARSHAL – The parade’s Grand Marshal is Nutley’s own seven-time New York Emmy Award Winner Tina Cervaiso, “one of the most versatile and popular sports broadcasters and personalities on television and radio today,” town officials said.

HONOREE DINNER – The 2022 Nutley-Belleville Columbus Day & Italian Heritage Month Parade Committee Annual Honoree Dinner took place last month at Nanina’s in the Park in Belleville. Nutley native Jason P. Zinna was honored as Nutley’s Italian Man of the Year at the ceremony. Others who were honored include: Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, DeLores Del Deo Kirk; the Italian Heritage Award recipient, Michael V. Calabro, Esq.; Belleville Italian Woman of the Year, Patricia Ferrara Wells; Belleville Italian Man of the Year, Dr. James A. Corino, Ed. D; Nutley Italian Woman of the Year, Roseann Biasi Vazquez; Renaissance Woman of the Year, Jerri Custode; Renaissance Man of the Year, Nicholas F. Cozzarelli; Business Leader, John Monaco; and Community Excellence Award recipient, Frank Dauksis.

“We are excited to work together once again with our neighbors to celebrate Columbus Day and Italian Heritage Month,” Nutley Mayor Joseph Scarpelli said.

“The Parade Committee does an outstanding job every year and we are proud to participate in this great event,” Scarpelli said.

“Both Nutley and Belleville have a long tradition of honoring our Italian American culture,” agreed Mauro Tucci, Nutley commissioner of parks and recreation.

“Every year, we are delighted to celebrate and salute those who have enhanced the well-being and vitality of their community and have shown a long and sustained commitment to honoring and preserving their culture,” Tucci said.

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