After a six-year hiatus, a Mahopac fall tradition that began in 1988 is returning on Oct. 5, when the Putnam County Columbus Day Parade will once again play a central role in the town’s annual Street Festival. The story behind reviving the parade, which dropped off the calendar due to COVID, is one of persistence, commitment and community spirit.
The parade has a storied history. The Italian American Club of Mahopac began sponsoring the Putnam County Columbus Day Parade 37 years ago to celebrate Italian American culture. The parade began as a joint venture with St. John the Evangelist Church, on the occasion of the church’s centennial celebration.
