The nation’s oldest Italian heritage parade marked another year Sunday afternoon with music, food and classic cars, but without its celebrity grand marshal. 

The San Francisco Italian Heritage Parade, now in its 157th year, kicked off at Jefferson and Powell streets, made its way through North Beach along Columbus Avenue, and concluded in Washington Square outside Sts. Peter and Paul Church. Along the way, hundreds of Italian American community groups, musicians and other performers entertained thousands of spectators.

Actor Joe Mantegna, famous for his roles in “The Godfather Part III” and TV’s “Criminal Minds,” as well as the voice of Fat Tony on “The Simpsons,” was to serve as grand marshal of the parade but had to back out after learning he has COVID.

“Literally we were packing our bags when we decided to test before we leave to make sure that what seemed like the onset of a cold was all that it was going to be, and of course that deadly pink line on that COVID test strip came up, which has put down the entire Mantegna family down for a while,” the star said in a video address posted on the parade’s website.

The Chicago-born actor, acclaimed for his diverse portrayals of Italian Americans, expressed regret at having to back out as grand marshal and thanked the parade board for the invitation. 

“Please, if you can find it in your heart to invite me up next year or any year beyond, I would so much love to come up and do this,” Mantegna said. “I love San Francisco. All my memories of the times I’ve been  there have been great.”

Mantegna has won a Tony Award for “Glengarry Glen Ross” and earned Emmy nominations for his roles in the miniseries  “The Last Don” (1997), “The Rat Pack” (1998), and “The Starter Wife” (2007).

“Grazie mille, and I hope to see you all very, very soon,” he said in his video address.

Without Mantegna, Sunday’s celebration featured a showcase of classic Italian convertibles and performances by local marching bands, family-friendly festivities in Washington Square Park, and opportunities to support North Beach’s small businesses and restaurants.

The parade and festival coincided with Fleet Week, San Francisco’s annual salute to the armed forces, which drew crowds to Fisherman’s Wharf and other spots along the waterfront despite the absence of U.S. military due to the federal government shutdown. Spectators alternated watching the parade’s floats on the ground and the air show’s maneuvers overhead, performed by civilian teams and the Canadian Snowbirds.  

In addition to being the longest continuously running Italian heritage parade in the country, the event is one of San Francisco’s oldest civic celebrations. The event has grown from a downtown grand ball in 1868 to become a staple of San Francisco’s autumn, drawing an enthusiastic crowd to North Beach each October.