There was no better place to be on Columbus Day than the namesake park where a big crowd of kids and families joined in a celebration hosted by the Friends of Christopher Columbus Park. In what has become an annual tradition, the free event kicked off with a kids parade and promenade through the park. At the conclusion of the parade, there was a short ceremony at the Christopher Columbus statue, including a wreath laying ceremony led by Italian Deputy Consul Luigi Munno and local officials with Sen. Anthony Petruccelli, Rep. Aaron Michlewitz, City Councilor Sal LaMattina, Eliot School Principal Traci Walker Griffith and Boston’s Commissioner of Veterans’ Services, Francisco Urena. As part of the ceremony, Joseph Griffith sang “God Bless America” and an Italian singer performed an opera selection.
Entertainment through the day featured performances by Jenny the Juggler, Peter O’Malley the Magician, Boris the Pennyfarthing Bicyclist and T-Bone the Interactive Pied Piper, as well as readings by Eliot School students and a patriotic musical performance by the North End Music & Performing Arts Center. Other fun activities included face-painting, NEMPAC’s famous crafts and music table, lawn games with prizes, and tours of a real working Boston Fire truck.
FOCCP President, Joanne Hayes-Rines, announced a new “Adopt a Light” program at the event to fund the future replacement of the iconic trellis lights. Along with raffles, the group raised over $1,000 toward the trellis and other park enhancement efforts. Ann Babbitt, co-chair of this celebration with Mary Marenghi, spoke about the Columbus Day event. “To encourage year-round activity at our Park, The Friends of Christopher Columbus Park fund and sponsor many free events throughout the year, including the Winter Trellis lighting, the Independence Day celebration, Sunday Free Movie nights, and others. This month’s Columbus Day event, however, is one of our most special events because we are celebrating our Park’s namesake. We are proud to have the support of responsible and generous corporate sponsors for this event. Thank you to Al Dente Restaurant, Boston Pushcart, Benevento’s, CL Waterfront Properties LLC, and Tia’s Restaurant. We also thank our membership whose yearly contributions help fund this and other events.”
Photos by Matt Conti. See high resolution gallery and print options.
Photos by Matt Conti. See high resolution gallery and print options.
