Queens Parades and Festivals

Colombian Independence Day Festival
July 20, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Parade takes place from 69th to 90th streets on Northern Boulevard.

Festival takes place at Festival Square in Flushing Meadows.

It's only natural for the biggest parks in Queens to host one of the biggest festivals in Queens. On July 20, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. the Colombian Independence Day Festival in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park will serve up traditional food, display Columbian dances and music, and offer good times for all.

The event is one of the largest in the park. While it offers a homecoming of sorts for the borough's countless Colombians, it's also a close substitute for those looking to experience another country without leaving home. And, so we've heard, Colombians know how to throw a fest.

With this lively festival, the sidewalks will surely to be packed with flag-waving Colombians honoring the music, culture and food of the South American country.

Every major politician makes an appearance, marching alongside revelers and wearing a badge of Honorary Colombian for the day as the country's yellow, blue and red flag is waved. For those who've never experienced a Northern Boulevard parade, the scene can be surreal: sidewalks packed elbow to elbow and two lanes of traffic in either direction flooded with proud marchers and ornate floats. The only thing louder than the music is the often-blown whistles that seem to be a call for more enjoyment.

The dress is, as you might imagine, extremely casual. (Flags worn as do-rags are perfectly acceptable.) And nobody's too old for a little yellow, blue and red face painting.

Even the Empire State Building gets into the spirit, lighting the sky with the Colombian flag's colors.

Kids get some drum lessons at a previous JAMS Festival.

JAMS Festival
Aug. 2, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Jamaica Avenue between Parsons
Boulevard and 169th Street
(718) 526-3217
www.go2ccj.org.

The multicultural fabric of Queens emerges from behind store counters and out of the doors of hundreds of homes filling 10 blocks with the colors, sounds and aromas of what it means to be from Southeast Queens.

The Jamaica Arts Music Summer (JAMS) Festival, which attracts more than 100,000 residents and visitors to downtown Jamaica every year, is one of the boroughs largest vehicles for tourism, but more importantly brings families to the street to celebrate their cultures.

The two-day festival that revolves around a day of multi-cultural family fun and entertainment, begins with an Under the Stars concert at Rufus King Park, where the dancing begins, and continues with a view into the history of Jamaica and where the community is heading with an emerging artist JAMS Jazz session.

There's even one block designated for children-only, which features free rides, popcorn, clowns, balloon sculptors, face painters and entertainment.

Dominican Day Parade
Aug. 10, 12 p.m
Sixth Avenue from 36th Street to 56th Street, Manhattan.
From the land of Puerto Plata and Pedro Martinez comes a parade that celebrates the heritage of the Dominican Republic. This annual parade will take place on Sixth Avenue in Manhattan and offer a spectacle like no other.

Dancers of all ages will groove in wild costumes while delicious food is served, making this parade live and breathe. Hundreds of thousands of people congregate each summer as merengue bands pound on drums and provocatively dressed women shake their hips to the beat.

Relish the energy and excitement that only the Dominican Republic can bring to the streets of Manhattan when the sun is shining overhead.

West Indian Carnival
Sept. 1, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Island Jubilee
West Indian American Day Carnival
Eastern Parkway between Utica Avenue and Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn
(718) 467-1797
www.wiadca.org

At the West Indian American Day Carnival, expect to see a lot of scary masks and fabulous make up jobs. Many colorful and sometimes strange characters come out of the woodwork for this crowd participation event. Parade-goers are advised to wear comfortable clothing and something they don't mind getting a little messy, as dye and powder throwing are a frequent tradition in this parade.

It is good to attend this parade on an empty stomach. Eastern Parkway will be lined to the hilt with food stands with delicacies that include jerk chicken, oxtail, macaroni pie, fried flying fish, curry goat, coconut bread and much more.

The West Indian American Day Carnival began in the 1940s and draws more than three million people each year. The New York celebration is bigger than any other West Indian celebration in the United States.

Summer Sports Day - Playground for All Children
July 19, 11 a.m. - 3p.m.
Playground for All Children
Flushing Meadows Corona Park
(718) 699-8283
Children learn basic techniques in baseball, soccer, tennis football and basketball.

Latino Cultural Festival
July 27 - Aug. 3
Queens Theatre in the Park
(718) 760-0064
www.queenstheatre.org/latinofestival/latinocultural.htm

Summer Festival at Ozone Park
Aug. 13, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Loring Field North Conduit at 149th Avenue
Enjoy a free day of arts & crafts, inflatable rides, face painting, music and games.

Summer Fun Day!
With Puppets in the Park
Sat. Aug. 16, 4 p.m.
Highland Park
Puppets in the Park present Cinderella Samba with puppet making workshop to follow.

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Jamaica Hosts July Gospelfest
By Elisabeth Ponsot

The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation in conjunction with Councilman Thomas White (D-Jamaica) and gospel radio station 1190 WLIB have joined together to bring the third annual Southern Queens Gospelfest to Jamaica this July.

The Gospelfest will take place from 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday, July 26 at Baisley Pond Park on Rockaway Boulevard between Sutphin and Baisley Boulevard.

The event will be a day filled with gospel music and family fun, featuring arts and crafts, face painting and even boating on Baisley Pond. The performers will include Brother Al Smith, Destiny and the Mount Horeb Dance Ministry of Corona.

The individuals responsible for the coordination of this year's Gospelfest hold a vested interest in promoting cultural events in the area - as has been demonstrated by their commitment to the continuation and promotion of community initiatives over the years.

A native of South Jamaica, White has been involved in local outreach efforts such as this summer's Gospelfest for over 30 years. His work as both an advocate and developer has contributed significantly to the continuation of local programs to support senior citizens, job training, crime prevention and drug and alcohol treatment centers. Recently, White has been behind other summer programs such as free golf and tennis lessons for local youth at Baisley Park.

His idea to hold a Gospelfest in Baisley Park began as a mix of keen observation and creativity.

White sits on the New York City Cultural Arts Committee. It was there he discovered that District 28 - which includes Jamaica, Rochdale Village and Richmond Hill - had only one city-funded arts program for a community of around 158,000 people, a truth he quickly vowed to change.

Events Coordinator Audrey Lucas noted that White was also concerned by the lack of people spending time at parks in the area. "We have beautiful parks out here and they were just empty," she said. In turn, White began to brainstorm about events that could be brought to parks like Baisley in order to draw attention to the area.

Lucas explained that the combination of these realizations led White to develop ideas to bring more cultural activities and arts programs to the area. "It is essential for the quality of life in the community to support the arts," Lucas said.

Gospelfest was first held in Baisley Park in 2006. The daylong event serves to highlight local gospel performers while bringing the community together for a day of music, games and spirituality.

One gospel singer who will be performing this July is Brother Al Smith, representing the New Jerusalem Baptist Church. The church, known affectionately by congregants as "The Church That Faith Is Building," is an integral part of the spiritual community in Jamaica.

The New Jerusalem Baptist Church is described on their web site as a religious institution committed to following the biblical principles of a "Five-Fold Ministry," notably - "fellowship, discipleship, worship, evangelism and ministry."

Beyond what the church offers to members of the religious community in Jamaica, The New Jerusalem Baptist Church supports local residents by holding cooking and wellness classes, tutorial sessions, bible study and leadership seminars.

Individuals interested in learning more about the third annual Southern Queens Gospelfest should contact the Department of Parks & Recreation at (718) 520-5914, or are invited to visit their web site, at www.nycgovparks.org.