Councillors discuss return of Columbus Day parade

By Barbara Taormina

REVERE – The City Council was quick to get behind a motion proposed by Councillors Richard Serino and Anthony Cogliandro that the new mayor elected next month establish a planning committee for a Columbus Day/Italian-American Heritage Month parade to be held on the second Monday of October 2025 and every two years after.

“I don’t care what it’s called, just that we have a parade again in the city. It’s been a tradition in our community and I think it should continue,” said Serino, adding that the parade was a special day for the city.

Cogliandro said neighboring communities have unity parades and celebrations. “It’s just a day to get everyone involved to celebrate our community,” he said.

Councillor-at-Large Anthony Zambuto said it was a great motion but he disagreed with Serino and said it should be Columbus Day. “It was a tradition and everyone enjoyed it; you didn’t have to be Italian to enjoy it. It should be brought back and I want it called Columbus Day,” said Zambuto, who received applause from the audience for his remarks.

Councillor-at-Large Dan Rizzo recalled that sometime back in 2008 or 2009 the parade just stopped. It was the brought back only to be shared by Revere and East Boston in alternating years until it, again, stopped.

“There was a void,” said Rizzo, who added that when he was elected mayor in 2012, he put together a committee to get it restarted, which it did with the help from a friend from East Boston, Buddy Mangino.

“We added a twist: a Columbus Day breakfast that turned into kind of a roast,” said Rizzo, adding that any type of parade builds community spirit. “When you see people lining the route, and there’s floats and bands and kids in it, it’s uplifting,” he said. “It’s a true community event.”

Councillor-at-Large Gerry Visconti also said it was a great motion, a tradition that should be brought back, and he looked forward to being at the next parade.