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The Italian Heritage Parade & Festa takes place Sunday, October 11, 2026, from 12:30 to 5 p.m. on The Hill. The parade winds through the neighborhood's streets to Berra Park, where the festa carries on with food, music and games. The Hill 2000 Neighborhood Association runs it, and this year's edition is billed as the 159th.
Where the parade comes from
Columbus Day festivities in St. Louis date to 1867, according to the Italian American Heritage Corporation, which credits the first parade to the Fratellanza Society. The society's own site says it was organized on November 12, 1866, and incorporated that December 6, and calls itself the oldest Italian American organization in the United States. The same heritage group describes that first parade as starting downtown and ending at the statue of Christopher Columbus in Tower Grove Park, a statue donated by Henry Shaw.
One wrinkle: the organizer's edition count, 159th in 2026, points to 1868 as the first year, one later than the 1867 date above. This guide doesn't try to settle it. The parade has since settled on The Hill, the neighborhood Italian immigrants began moving into in the 1880s; see the Hill guide for how the neighborhood grew up around its clay mines and brickyards.
What it looks like now
The 2026 parade steps off at Botanical and Macklind and winds through The Hill before landing at Berra Park. At the park, the official page lists Italian food and drinks from local restaurants, live music and entertainment, and games and activities for all ages.
Recent editions
Local TV reporting recorded the 157th parade in 2024, hosted by the Hill 2000 Neighborhood Association, with cuisine, vendors, music and a parade at Berra Park. The 158th followed in 2025, with a festival at Berra Park after the parade.
About Berra Park
The city bought the site in 1945 and it was named Virgo Park. In November 1965 it was renamed for Louis G. “Midge” Berra, a longtime political force in the area. The city's parks page notes he was no relation to Yogi Berra, the baseball Hall of Famer who also grew up on The Hill.
Planning your visit
When: Sunday, October 11, 2026, 12:30–5 p.m.
Where: the parade steps off at Botanical & Macklind on The Hill and ends at Berra Park.
Details: the organizer's official page, hillstl.org. Check it for the latest schedule.
Where to stay
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See Places to Stay →Quick answers
When is the Italian Heritage Parade & Festa in 2026?
Sunday, October 11, 2026, from 12:30 to 5 p.m. The parade steps off at Botanical and Macklind and ends at Berra Park, where the festa follows.
Who runs the Italian Heritage Parade?
The Hill 2000 Neighborhood Association hosts it. The 2026 edition is billed as the 159th.
When did the parade start?
The Italian American Heritage Corporation dates the first St. Louis Columbus Day parade to 1867, organized by the Fratellanza Society. The organizer's edition count points to 1868, and this guide does not reconcile the one-year gap.
What is there to do at the festa?
The official page lists Italian food and drinks from local restaurants, live music and entertainment, and games and activities for all ages.
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