Columbus Day Parade Will Salute Navy

High-stepping horses, clowns and Spain’s “Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand” will march through downtown San Diego on Saturday in the 17th annual Columbus Day Parade.

The parade, whose theme is “A Salute to the U.S. Navy,” will have more than 125 units, including floats, bands, equestrian units, drill teams and baton twirlers, who will follow the 1.5-mile route on Broadway from 9th Avenue to Columbia Street. It begins at 11 a.m.

According to parade chairman Dick Colangelo, “The quality this year is much better. We have more talent and better talent. This is going to be the best parade we’ve ever had.”

Additions to this year’s parade include the Al Bahr Shriners, radio announcers from KFMB-FM, and the Ocean Beach Geriatric Surf Club and Precision Marching Drill Team, a group of older surfers who perform antics with their surfboards while the drill team practices a precision routine with beach chairs.

Many area high school bands will participate in the parade competition. They include 1985 Rose Parade representative Patrick Henry as well as Helix, Mt. Miguel, Carlsbad, Escondido, Orange Glen, Montgomery and Granite Hills.

The grand marshal is Johnny Seven, a writer, producer, director and actor. Seven was a regular in the TV series “Ironsides” and has made guest appearances on “Police Woman,” “The Virginian,” “Gunsmoke” and other shows, Colangelo said. Seven’s works include “The Man Most Likely,” “Even Grown Men Cry” and “The Young Reporters.”

The queen of the parade is Christina Adamo, an 18-year-old student at the University of San Diego and a member of the United Italian American Assn.

The association, sponsor of the parade, is also honoring the Italian American of the Year, Carmen Esposito, a 52-year-old recording secretary for the association and a member of two other Italian American organizations.

Other events during the weekend in celebration of Columbus Day are a ball at the Sheraton Harbor Island West on Saturday night and a special Mass on Sunday. The ball begins with cocktails at 6:30 p.m. and continues with dinner and dancing with music by Kasmir. The solemn high Mass at noon Sunday will be at Our Lady of the Rosary Church, 1659 Columbia St.

In observance of the holiday, federal and municipal courts will be closed Monday, but city and county administrative offices will be open. Most banks will be closed.