Columbus Day Parade Returns To Seaside Heights

The 33rd annual Ocean County Columbus Day Parade and Italian Festival returns to Seaside Heights on Saturday, October 12th, beginning at 10 am. The parade, along with the Italian Street Festival will captivate attendees with a vibrant celebration of Italian heritage, culture, and community spirit.

According to a press release obtained via Ocean County Tourism, the parade and festival will be held this year from Friday, October 11th to Sunday, October 13th, in Seaside Heights. The event brings together locals and visitors alike for a weekend filled with parades, music, food, and festivities.

One of the many highlights of the festival is the Ocean County Columbus Day Parade which starts at 1:00 pm on Sunday, October 13th along the Boulevard. The parade kicks off the festivities with a colorful procession featuring marching bands, and traditional Italian folk dancers. Plus, elaborate floats adorned with Italian flags and symbols, and community organizations proudly displaying their heritage. Spectators line the streets, waving flags and cheering as the parade makes its way through the heart of Seaside.

In addition to the Columbus Day Parade, throughout the weekend, the Italian Street Festival comes to life with a bustling array of activities and attractions for all ages. From authentic Italian cuisine to artisanal crafts and cultural exhibits, the festival offers a taste of Italy right in the heart of Ocean County. Attendees indulge in mouthwatering dishes such as pasta, pizza, cannoli, and gelato, prepared by local vendors and restaurants.

RELATED: Here's The 7 Best Italian Rice Balls In Toms River!

Live music and entertainment will fill the air, with performances ranging from traditional Italian folk music to contemporary hits. Entertainers direct from Italy showcase the rich tapestry of Italian music and dance traditions.

The 33rd Annual Ocean County Columbus Day Parade and Italian Street Festival serves as a testament to the enduring legacy of Italian culture and the vibrant spirit of community in Ocean County. It brings people together to celebrate shared traditions, create lasting memories, and honor the contributions of Italian Americans to the fabric of American society.

For information on becoming a vendor, call 732-477-6507, and find more info on the Columbus Day Parade here.

There's nothin' like a good Calzone. In Toms River, the pizzeria capital of Ocean County, you can get your fill of some great ones!

According to Wikipedia, the Italian word "Calzone" translates into Stocking or Trouser. Furthermore, this Italian turnover, was first created in Naples in the 18th century. A typical calzone dough stuffed and baked to a golden brown. Traditional calzone stuffing is mozzarella chees, ricotta cheese and ham or salami. From there, any calzone lover knows these days the sky is the limit. Meanwhile, after the filling is added, the dough is then folded in half over the filling and sealed with an egg mixture in a half-moon shape, or is sometimes shaped into a ball by pinching and sealing all the edges at the top. It is then either baked or fried. Here in Jersey, they are served with marinara or another traditional sauce, or with a mixture of garlic, olive oil, and parsley.

Personally, I grew up on calzones. They were as much a part of the weekly trip to our local pizzeria, John's Pizza in Bergen County as was a large pie or an Italian Hero. Yeah we called 'em heroes back then, for whatever reason. Anyway, those baked calzones, were decent size, however I remember them being manageable. The filling was always mozzarella, ricotta, and ham. Plus a side of sauce.

Then in the early 90s I was working at a radio station in Hackensack, and my Program Director kept raving about this calzone he would get every Tuesday at this Italian deli down the street. One Tuesday I joined him to pick up a couple of calzones. What I saw I couldn't believe. The guy behind the counter was deep frying his calzones! They were smaller than the ones I was used to, and more round like the size and shape of a softball. My God though, when they came out of that fryer and we got them back to the office, they were melty and amazing. I think my cholesterol went up 100 points that year.

Like with many things in the food world, size matters. Moreover, while prices go up, portions tend to shrink. However not with calzones. Over the past couple of decades I've noticed that the size of these things has gotten enormous! Furthermore, in some cases it looks like they just took a pizza and folded it in half! Is bigger always better though? Let's find out, here are some of the best rated calzones in Toms River, in no particular order. They have all just been rated highly on both social media and foodie webpages over the past year.

6 delicious calzones on the menu. Folks seem to love the Sausage, but the mushroom calzone seems to be a winner as well..And they fry em too! https://www.caponesgourmetpizza.com/#about  

A personal favorite of mine, and many other because they do some solid gluten friendly items (not calzones that I've seen so far). Their small and large calzones are stuffed to the gills. Sauce on the side for $1.50. https://www.attiliospizza.org/menus/

Since '93, a great cozy place for pasta dishes, but try the gigantic loaded large size calzone for about 20 bucks. Reviewers love it. https://www.tonyspastahouse.com/

Family owned in Shrewsbury since the early 90s, they've expanded to Jackson as well as Toms River. One size calzone with tons of filling options at about 2 bucks each.

https://www.mangiabrickovenpizza.com/_files/ugd/7198b8_1f96c89177fd4e269ebe547e9d6ddbbf.pdf

Word on the street is the meat lover calzone is the best around. Sausage Pepperoni and Meatball?? Dayummm! https://www.bringdat.com/menu/1613/mias-pizza-toms-river-08753

These guys are calzone crazy! Broccoli calzones, spinach calzones, veggie calzones. there's even the build your own option on the menu. https://www.charliespizza.com/#

One of the newer Hooper Ave pizza joints on Silverton's Pizza Alley. These guys do a mean steak n cheese and chicken n cheese calzone for sure! https://www.veracespizzamenu.com/?utm_source=gbp#menu