The Seaside Heights and Ocean County Columbus Day Parade has become one of the biggest Columbus Day celebrations in the state. One of the traditions of the event is to have an Italian folk group come to entertain the crowds. This year the group Arlecchino is slated to make their first United States appearance at the weekend long Italian Festival. The group will perform on the main event stage at 7:45 Friday and 3 PM Saturday. The following day Arlecchino will march in the Columbus Day Parade and also peform at mid afternoon, just after the parade has ended. Their final performance will be on Sunday night, at 7 PM, on the main stage.

Arlecchino is one of Italy's oldest folkoric groups and dates back to 1949. The group hails from the city of Bergamo, which is found in northern Italy. Sir Alfonso Orlando started the group and gave it the name "Gruppo Folcloristico del Ducato di Piazza Pontida" or "Folk Group from Piazza Pontida Dukedom." Sir Orlando wanted the group to pay tribute to Arlecchino. This is a character that was supposedly brought to life by a local area personality that lived in the 16th century. Arlecchino today is one of the most famous Italian characters of the theatre.

Folkoric groups sing songs in their local dialects that are meant to tell a tale or convey meaning about our lives. The singing is preceded by an explanation of the song to be sung, with the singers in this Italain folkoric group accompanied by accordion, tamborine and bitonale. There are also dance numbers that feature lots of movement and color. A few of the numbers performed include: The Mazurca of Umbrellas - Old and characteristic dance of the valleys in which the typical large and colourful shepherd's umbrellas have a prominent feature, Carolina - Figured singing describing the legendary beauty of Carolina, pretty girl that come to Bergamo from his native Serina Valley as a maid. The refrain is danced.

The original group of about 30 performers has changed through the years, with some of the members learning from their parents and then becoming part of the troupe themselves. The group was most recently directed by Marisa Orlanda,the daughter of the founder. She held her position for close to 40 years before passing away in early 2009. His nephew Corrado Orlando has now taken over the director's role. Arlecchino performs on TV and at events that have so far taken them to 20 countries. They also regularly work to raise funds for local charities in the area where they live.