NY CULTURE
Thumping Midtown Parade Is Reason to Show Pride—and a Chance to Dance
MIKE VILENSKY
The Dominican Day Parade in Midtown ignited the pride of Dominicans across the city and beyond on Sunday. Associated Press
New Yorkers of Dominican descent flooded the streets of Midtown Manhattan on Sunday to celebrate their nationality, run into old friends or get a glimpse of celebrities at the Dominican Day Parade.
“The parade is about our heritage, and it’s something fun to do,” said Yasmine Pascual, a 33-year-old Dominican New Yorker. Plus, she said, “I’m expecting to see someone famous.”
A flag waver rolls up Sixth Avenue. Associated Press
Hundreds of thousands were expected at the 33rd annual event, which took over more than a dozen Manhattan blocks. Midtown’s usual vehicle traffic was replaced by elaborate floats, marching bands, costumed personalities, and thumping dance music.
More Dominicans live in New York than any other city in the world, barring Santo Domingo (the capital of the Dominican Republic), city statistics show. About 576,701 Dominicans live in New York City, according to the 2010 census.
On Sunday, many of them wore red-and-blue bandannas, waved Dominican flags and cheered as politicians and community leaders strode by.
A historical costumed character Associated Press
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo was among the elected officials present. “What makes New York so special is its beautiful diversity,” he said. A Queens native, Mr. Cuomo said he recalled the early days of the parade when “there were just a few people out…. Now the Dominican community is one of the largest-growing in the state.”
Other politicians at the parade included Letitia James, the city’s public advocate, and state Sen. Adriano Espaillat, a Harlem Democrat seeking re-election.
The New York Police Department marching band drummed in unison, followed by a float for the radio station Wado (1280 AM), accompanied by dancers for the Brooklyn Nets.
“In New York, we’re all family,” said Nancy Ferreires, a Dominican woman who traveled from Pennsylvania for the parade. “I made a mistake moving over there,” she said of Pennsylvania. “New York is where you feel alive.”
Victor Bautista, a 54 year-old bus driver, said he was looking for “old-timers from the Dominican Republic” he hadn’t seen in years. “We’re all here to enjoy ourselves,” he said.
Mr. Cuomo was asked if another big event might come to New York City—the Democratic National Convention in 2016. Mayor de Blasio has been advocating for convention to be held in Brooklyn. Mr. Cuomo said he hoped the chances were “very good…but I don’t have any inside information.”
Traditional dancers were among the sites at the e Dominican Day Parade in Midtown on Sunday. Associated Press
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