The Columbus Italian Festival at St. John the Baptist Italian Catholic Church is back this year, with a few tweaks but most of the familiar favorites. Among the changes festival-goers can expect: Rather than the usual marching band parade, the festival has switched to a drumline competition this year. 

“With COVID, and so many students close together, we wanted to be diligent,” said Landa Masdea Brunetto, publicity chair for the festival. The drumline competition will take place at 2 p.m. on Oct. 10 on one of the festival's two stages. The children's area, which includes a balloon artist, also has swerved to avoid communal crayons and coloring pages.