Italian Heritage Parade on Shrewsbury Street today: 7 things you need to know

WORCESTER — The Shrewsbury Street Italian Heritage Parade will take place Sunday. Here's what you need to know:

1. The parade begins at noon, with marchers covering the length of Shrewsbury Street, from Aitchison Street near Piccadilly Plaza to Washington Square.

2. The 1.5-mile route will cover the inbound lanes, with plenty of sidewalk room for onlookers. Paradegoers will be able to watch from the grass median that divides Shrewsbury Street.

3. There will be 50 entries in the parade, from marching bands to public officials. City high school bands are part of the lineup. Candidates for public office will be in the parade, although organizers have asked that they not carry campaign signs.

4. The parade grand marshal is Edward Russo. The parade mayor is Candy Mero-Carlson, a city councilor. 

5.  In conjunction with the parade, a festival will be held at Cristoforo Colombo Park, also known as East Park, with music, food and other activities. 

6. This parade replaces the Worcester Columbus Day Parade, a once-popular event that was dissolved in December 2018. Crowds had dwindled over the years. Residents sought to revive and rebrand the event, with Sunday marking the first Shrewsbury Street Italian Heritage Parade.

7. The parade was first organized by Michael J. McGivney, an Irishman, who started the first Columbus Day Parade as a Catholic celebration in the city in 1910.