STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Come Columbus Day weekend, Staten Islanders can prime their appetites for a fresh, new outdoor festival.

On Saturday, Oct. 11, the Borough President's Office announced the inaugural "Rome through Richmond Town: A Celebration of Italian Culture," a six-hour, free fete to all things Italian that's intended to replace the New Dorp Lane parade traditionally held on the holiday weekend.

This event will be spread across the grounds of Historic Richmond Town, the living history village at 441 Clarke Ave.

GOP Borough President James Oddo announced he was "adding to the Staten Island calendar a new festival" from a podium set up in the Third County Court House at Richmond Town.

Rather than a fleeting parade, Oddo said he hopes for a "deeper, richer event."

"No disrespect to the old way," said Oddo, explaining that community members and his office are "just looking at things with a fresh eye."

Although this is decidedly an Italian-American event — from music and culture to history and dance — Oddo conveyed the event's all-inclusiveness.

"This is for all of Staten Island," emphasized Oddo, detailing a chance for residents to be civic-minded and appreciative of a culture's history. He also complimented Richmond Town director Ed Wiseman for his track record in coordinating large-scale events on the historic grounds, from the six-year running NYC Chili & BBQ tests to Uncorked!, the family event focused on wine and food, to the Richmond County Fair, celebrated this year on Labor Day weekend.

To bookend the October Italian festival, Lois and Richard Nicotra of the Hilton Garden Inn, Bloomfield, contracted Michael Amante (aka "The People's Tenor") as the opening act for the entertainment page Joe Piscopo, formerly of "Saturday Night Life," will supply the finale with "Song, Schtick and Sinatra."

ONE NATION AND 'BUILDING BRIDGES'

"We are one nation — we should be building bridges to one another," said former Borough President Ralph J. Lamberti, who served as Grand Marshal of the 2013 New Dorp parade.

Maria Esposito, president of the New Dorp Merchant's Association also of the Norman Heil Insurance Agency, announced that Columbus Day weekend's "Rome to Richmond Town" will extend to New Dorp Lane. Her community group hopes to see a Sidewalk Sale and shop owner showcase slated for Monday, Oct. 13, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The New Dorp neighborhood primes to capture Columbus Day spirit with rides and hopes for a display of restaurateurs' foods plus a partnership with New Dorp High School's Culinary Institute.

"It will bring attention to New Dorp Lane," Ms. Esposito said of the Monday event, ideally bringing visitors to the strip's stores, professional offices and restaurants.

"Yes, when the parade ends, the people go home," she added, but this novel approach intends to keep them in the area.

THE NEW DORP PARADE

The Italian-American parade has had a fitful history. In September, 2012, then Borough President James Molinaro cancelled the Columbus Day parade in New Dorp, "because of conflicts with other events of importance to borough residents," according to Advance editor, Eddie D'Anna. The celebration, started originally in Port Richmond under the leadership of a community group, yet took a hiatus in the 1980s. Molinaro's office revived the tradition in New Dorp in 1991.

Also speaking at the press conference, State Sen. Diane Savino (D-North Shore/Brooklyn) said that Italian-Americans, in many ways, have become victims of cultural assimilation.

"The get off the boat and they never looked back," she said. "They don't know really where they came from."

Ms. Savino called out from the audience Gina Biancardi, president of Casa Belvedere Italian Cultural Foundation, who invested her personal monies in the Grymes Hill mansion. One aim of the not-for-profit, according to its website, is "to preserve and promote the Italian language, heritage and culture through educational programs for all age levels."

Toward the end of Oddo's press conference, Ms. Biancardi presented to the crowd a pair of framed images and writings of the late Rocky Marciano. It is part of a sports memorabilia collection featuring Italian-American athletes from Joe Dimaggio to race car drivers like Mario Andretti on display at Casa for the Festa D'Italia and Motori D'Italia. That event features dozens of Italian luxury sports cars and Italian food, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 27, and Sunday, Sept. 28.

In the original press release sent out by the Borough President's Office, Wednesday's gathering promised prominent Italian-Americans from Staten Island to announce the inaugural cultural event. A room of about 50 guests who "brainstormed the event" included jeweler and civic activist Jerry Amerosi, Carol Ann Benanti, Advance social reporter/Inside Out columnist and husband Tony Benanti, Advance Woman of Achievement Eleanor Conforti who heads the Italian-American Women of Staten Island, business owner Bob Cutrona, Daniel Clark of the Staten Island Economic Development Corp., the retired State Supreme Court justice and surrogate judge John Fusco and architect Len Rampulla.

Deputy Borough President Ed Burke and Council Member (R-South Shore) Steven Matteo also attended and made speeches.

Note: A "Rome to Richmond Town" rain date is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 12.