It was a splash of culture!
Thousands of Dominican Brooklynites marched proudly through the streets of Williamsburg on Saturday to celebrate their heritage at the 15th annual Brooklyn Dominican Parade and Festival.
Revelers waved the country’s red, white, and blue flag along Graham Avenue on the afternoon of Aug. 30, as dancers, artists, and enthusiastic community members — many clad in colorful traditional outfits — partied from Broadway all the way to Grand Street.
The procession then continued to Bushwick Avenue and Stagg Street, where carousers enjoyed a neighborhood bash filled with food and live music.
Organizers crowned Gilda Paulino of East New York the queen of the festival’s annual beauty pageant, and the new monarch said it was an honor to rep the borough’s Dominican population as she waved from atop a float in her sash and tiara.
“I really enjoyed it,” said Paulino, who was crowned princess at the parade several years ago. “It was a pleasure for me — I was representing the community.”
Borough Hall also joined in the festivities for the first time this year, flying a Dominican flag for the entire week leading up to the parade to honor the contributions of community members in Kings County — including Deputy Borough President Diana Reyna, the first Dominican-American to serve in a borough-wide office.
