Red and green stripes have been added to the white crosswalks on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester to prepare for the Shrewsbury Street Italian Heritage parade on Sunday. The parade, organized by Maria Stella Fiore, will feature 50 entries, including floats, bands, and trucks. Katherine Mercadante, a committee member, mentioned that her husband Kevin Mercadante will serve as the grand marshal of the parade.
Fran Pisegna, another committee member, shared that 12 crosswalks have been repainted in Italian flag colors for the parade. Prior to the parade, a soccer tournament will take place at East Park between teams from four Italian restaurants. After the parade, there will be a performance by the band Abrosiani in the parking lot of Pepe’s Italian Restaurant.
Food vendors will be present throughout the day on the street during the parade. The first Shrewsbury Street Italian Heritage parade took place in 2022 after the Columbus Day parade that was previously held annually until 2018. Pisegna clarified that the heritage parade is not associated with the Columbus Day parade and focuses on celebrating Italian heritage and the diversity of Worcester.
“We’re doing our own thing,” Pisegna said. “It’s really about the Italian heritage and the diversity of Worcester and what makes Worcester so unique.” The parade is a way to showcase the cultural richness of the community and bring people together in celebration.
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