ABC7's Feature/Entertainment reporter and 190 NORTH host Janet Davies; Sports Anchor/Reporter Mark Giangreco; and President Emeritus, Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans, Dominic Di Frisco, will serve as co-hosts during the station's two-hours of HD coverage. ABC 7's Mark Nilsson from 190 NORTH, will capture the pageantry from the street. Riding atop the ABC 7 Columbus Day Parade float will be Mike Caplan, Steve Dolinsky, John Garcia, Paul Meincke, Sylvia Perez and Charles Thomas.
ABC7 President and General Manager Emily Barr said, "We at ABC 7 are delighted that for the fourth consecutive year we are the station, the only station in town, to broadcast the Columbus Day Parade and shine the spotlight the great Italian-American community here in Chicago."
According to Jo Ann Serpico, president Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans, "We value our partnership with ABC 7 -- the official station of the 2010 Columbus Day Parade and thank the station for all they do for our community. We're thrilled that for our 2nd annual Columbus Day extravaganza--a five day Fiera Italiana festival in Daley Plaza--ABC 7 Sports Anchor Ryan Chiaverini will be there to co-host the opening ceremonies. The festival is an exciting way to kick off our Columbus Day Parade tradition and heighten the passionate celebration of Italian culture."
The outdoor Fiera Italiana, hosted by the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans, is open to the public and will feature live entertainment, fashion and delicious food from October 4-8, 10 am-6 pm.
After Fiera Italiana, the fun continues on October 11th at 12:30 pm when the parade wends its way from Columbus and Balbo Drives, proceeding north to Monroe. The 2010 Parade is led by Honorary Parade Marshals Michael Lufrano, Senior Vice President, Community Affairs and General Counsel of the Chicago Cubs, Christopher R. Bertucci, U.S. Naval Academy and former Major League Baseball pitcher and manager, Tommy LaSorda. This year's parade theme, "A Salute to Italian American Elected Officials" honors Italian-American public servants past and present.
The Great Lakes Navy Band and over 150 contingents consisting of marchers, bands, drum and bugle corps and floats will participate in this two-hour civic celebration. Among the many bands and units featured will be the Italian-American war veterans, Sicilian Band of Chicago and the Modenese Society of Highland Park, among others.
In addition, the Columbus Day Parade Queen, Iliana Incandela, from Glenview, Illinois, will ride with her court on a special parade float.
The Columbus Day Parade celebrates Christopher Columbus and his monumental voyage which was first acknowledged in Illinois in 1963 when it became a legal holiday in the state.
The Columbus Day Parade is produced for ABC 7 Chicago by Executive Producer of Local Programming, Christopher Bowen.
