What you need to know about NYC’s Dominican Day Parade
Photo Credit: Benjamin Kanter/Mayoral Photo Office on Flickr
The 42nd annual National Dominican Day Parade returns in vibrant colors to Midtown on Sunday, August 11. The parade celebrates New York City’s Dominican community, the largest in the United States, and Dominican heritage with live music, parade floats, striking costumes, traditional food, dance, and much more. This year’s parade theme, “Merengue Nuestro Ritmo” (Merengue Our Rhythm), honors the rich history and cultural significance of the iconic Caribbean dance style, with the legendary merengue band Los Hermanos Rosario serving as the grand marshal.
The Dominican Day Parade was first held in 1982, starting as a small celebration in Washington Heights. The event is hosted on the second Sunday in August to commemorate the start of the Dominican Republic’s fight for independence from Spain in 1863.
Get ready for a vibrant display of thousands of marchers against a backdrop of red, white, and blue, the colors of the Dominican flag. The parade features highlights such as traditional Merengue dances, incredible floats, live performances, and the diablos cojuelo, colorful costumed marchers with long horned masks and bullwhips, which are a reference to the Dominican Republic’s Carnival celebration.
In addition to Los Hermanos Rosario, other well-known honorees include Grupo Rica CEO and President Pedro Brache Alvarez, who will serve as the parade’s “El Pradino,” as well as Dominican actor Jochy Santos, rapper Bulin 47, and more, according to ABC7 New York.
The parade will begin at noon, kicking off from Sixth Avenue at 37th Street and traveling north to 55th Street.
The city’s Department of Transportation has released the following information about the parade’s route and street closures:
Formation:
- 6th Avenue between 37th Street and 38th Street
- 36th Street between Broadway and 5th Avenue
- 38th, 37th Street between 5th Avenue and 7th Avenue
Route:
- 6th Avenue between 36th Street and 55th Street
Dispersal:
- 55th Street between 6th Avenue and 5th Avenue
- 55th Street between 7th Avenue and 6th Avenue
