Crowds braved the rain to celebrate the 18th Avenue Columbus Day Parade, marching from 61st Street to the “Il Centro” Community Center.
Photo by Arthur de Gaeta
Bensonhurst’s 18th Avenue was alive with energy on Saturday as locals from all walks of life weathered the storm for the neighborhood’s storied Columbus Day Parade.
The day began with a pre-parade mass at St. Athanasius Church. The march kicked off at 1 p.m. from 61st Street, continuing along 18th Avenue to the Federation of Italian American Organizations’ “Il Centro” Community Center.
Crowds braved the rain to celebrate the 18th Avenue Columbus Day Parade, marching from 61st Street to the “Il Centro” Community Center.Photo by Arthur de Gaeta 
Crowds braved the rain to celebrate the 18th Avenue Columbus Day Parade, marching from 61st Street to the “Il Centro” Community Center.Photo by Arthur de Gaeta 
Crowds braved the rain to celebrate the 18th Avenue Columbus Day Parade, marching from 61st Street to the “Il Centro” Community Center.Photo by Arthur de Gaeta
The procession featured colorful floats, marching bands and community groups, and this year’s grand marshals included Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, Harry L. D’Onofrio of D’Onofrio General Contractors Corporation, Joseph Paolilo Sr., founder of A&S Pork Store, and Lorenzo & Antonietta Rizzo, former owners of Beaver Construction.
Council Member Susan Zhuang dances through the rain along 18th Avenue.Photo by Arthur de Gaeta 
Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso joins the fun, twirling and cheering in the rain as parade-goers celebrate along Cristoforo Colombo Boulevard.Photo by Arthur de Gaeta 
Assembly Member William Colton embraces the rainy parade spirit.Photo by Arthur de Gaeta
The parade’s origins date back to 1981, when FIAO launched the event. Not long after, the thoroughfare was co-named Cristoforo Colombo Boulevard to celebrate the neighborhood’s rich Italian-American heritage.
Today, it is billed as “the longest parade in New York City.”
In a statement, area Assembly Member William Colton lauded the parade as a reflection of the borough — “a true melting pot.”
“I was delighted to participate in this parade, which is a celebration of the contribution of Italian-Americans to Brooklyn, New York City and the United States,” he said. “Beginning in the early 20th century, and again in the post-World War II era, many Italian immigrants settled in this area, which became one of the centers of Italian-American culture in this country.”
“Over decades, of course, the population of the neighborhood has continued to change, and, as they shared the neighborhood with Jewish immigrants in the early years, Italian-Americans now share the community with people whose roots lie in many other countries,” he went on. “So, it really pleases me to see that those who marched with me today represent a panoply of cultures. We remain a true melting pot, and that is one of the things that makes our city and our borough the wonderful place it is to live, work and raise a family.”
Grand marshals made their way down the avenue.Photo by Arthur de Gaeta 
Marching bands, floats, and community groups brought color and energy.Photo by Arthur de Gaeta 
Some dressed in costume for the parade.Photo by Arthur de Gaeta 
Crowds braved the rain to celebrate the 18th Avenue Columbus Day Parade.Photo by Arthur de Gaeta