Hudson County is celebrating Dominican culture this week with a series of events honoring music, tradition and community, culminating in the annual Dominican-American Parade along Bergenline Avenue.
The celebrations began Wednesday evening with a gala at The Graycliff in Moonachie, where dancers, artists, community members and representatives of Dominican culture gathered for an evening filled with music, folklore and traditional performances.
This year’s events place special focus on legendary Dominican artist Fefita La Grande, one of the best-known figures in merengue típico. During the gala, she was honored for her decades-long contribution to Dominican music and culture and was named Queen of the Dominican-American Parade of Hudson County.
The celebration continues Thursday with another tribute to the artist: a section of 32nd Street between Bergenline Avenue and New York Avenue is scheduled to be named Fefita La Grande Way. A film about her life and career is also scheduled to be presented Friday evening at the Gilmore School theater.
The week will culminate Sunday, September 27, with the Dominican-American Parade of Hudson County.
The parade is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. at 80th Street and continue south along Bergenline Avenue to 43rd Street in Union City, passing through North Bergen, Guttenberg, West New York and Union City.
This year’s theme, “Somos Raíces” — “We Are Roots,” celebrates Dominican identity, traditions, music and folklore. Organizers say the parade will feature the sounds and cultural symbols associated with Dominican music, including accordion, güira and drums, along with dancers, performers and community groups.
For Hudson County’s large Dominican community, the annual celebration is more than a parade. It is also an opportunity to bring generations together, preserve cultural traditions and share Dominican heritage with the broader New Jersey community.
Sources: Diario Libre; Dominican-American Parade of Hudson County; West New York – NJ y alrededores / Facebook
By NJ RADAR Team