As the grand finale at the end of the Columbus Day Parade, Port Chester resident Nate Casterella waves to the crowd on Westchester Avenue on Sunday, Oct. 9. He portrays Christopher Columbus while riding in the Italian Heritage Club’s masterful float replicating one of the explorer’s iconic ships.
Striking a romantic pose, Sebastian Serrano, 16, and Lilian Chiroque, 18, bring grace and elegance to Westchester Avenue as they dance in the Columbus Day Parade with the Port Chester-based Academia de Marinera Somos Camperones on Sunday, Oct. 9.
While watching outside of her Westchester Avenue apartment, Anita Pinoargotte gets up to take a photo by the parade-escorting Port Chester police officers with her 7-month-old granddaughter Fiona, who seems more interested in the motorcycles than the camera.
A bright smile extends across the face of Port Chester High School Marching Band color guard member Natalia Aguilar, a senior, as she struts down Westchester Avenue with poise.
Fire engines are loud, especially when they blare their horns. Port Chester residents Taryn and Mike Tedesco try to comfort and excite their mildly concerned 2-year-old daughter Eva as the trucks pass by.
As the parade’s grand marshal, Port Chester Mayor Luis Marino waves an Italian flag and rides down Westchester Avenue in a classic Mustang driven by Betsy Brown Road resident Liz Rotfeld.
With her spirited voice echoing, John F. Kennedy Elementary School fourth-grader Kiara Mendoza seems to be an early leader of the Mini Rams, a youth cheerleading program for all Port Chester elementary schools.
Representing King Street Elementary School as the mascot is a job second-grader Stephano Becerra takes seriously as he stoically leads his peers.
“JFK, JFK!” shouts John F. Kennedy Elementary School Principal Judy Diaz (right), leading the crowd through chants as she marches with her pupils.
Hand-in-hand in a line of other young children marching with Segunda Iglesia Pentecostal Juan 3:16, Port Chester 3-year-old Estefania Alonzo proudly clutches a peaceful rainbow drawing to brandish.
While passing by the Port Chester-Rye Brook Public Library, Spring Street resident Marlen Partida takes a moment to grace the camera with a smile in her Viva Mexico dress.
Just past the Parish of St. John Bosco, dancers with Comparsa Candelaria display their exquisite garments as they saunter down the road.
Bringing the Ram-pride spirit to the Columbus Day Parade, Port Chester High School cheerleaders wave their pom-poms high while they march.
In line and ready to shine, Port Chester Middle School band students strut in synchrony, waiting for directions to pick up their horns and play.
Christopher Columbus’s position on sports is unclear, but Port Chester’s athletes on the 12U Pirates team paid their respect and showed their pride anyway with a banner declaring their championship-winning status.
Thornwood resident Madelyn Nangle, 15 months old, makes herself effortlessly comfortable on her Port Chester grandfather Jim Florindi’s lap, giving herself a perfect seat to curiously watch the parade.
Hordes of marchers follow The Tappan Zee Bridgemen as they have a jolly ol’ time parading through Port Chester.
Essentially the official pup of Segunda Iglesia Pentecostal Juan 3:16, Toby the chihuahua fearlessly leads marchers in his congregation in his sweater vest, scouting many paces ahead of the group to inspect the scene.
Marchers in festive costumes and attire join a giant robot and a bull to bring a fun, controlled chaos to the procession while trailing the Forastero DJ truck.
