The National Dominican Day Parade celebrates Dominican culture and Dominican contributions to the prosperity and culture of the United States.
A major function of the parade is to fundraise scholarships for promising students of Dominican descent. The organization is also active all year long in New York City’s Dominican community. natddp.org 🇩🇴
There is lots of merengue, bachata, son Dominicano, and dem bow. Dominican speaker vans are so loud they can literally knock you over. Earplugs are recommended. It gets hot in August, so protect yourself from the sun and drink plenty of water. Don’t forget to bring your flags. ¡Quisqueya!
43rd National Dominican Day Parade 2025
The National Dominican Day Parade is a series of community events. To really enjoy the Parade, get involved. Dominicans are some of the nicest people you will ever meet, and good friends to have in New York City.
Bronx Dominican Heritage Celebration
The 43rd National Dominican Day Parade Kickoff, hosted by Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, honors Mimi Henriquez, Ramón Mercedes, Domingo Cruz, Fidel Malena, and Giamara M. Rosado; at the Bronx County Building; on May 22, 2025. 🇩🇴
Yonkers Dominican Heritage Celebration
The 43rd National Dominican Day Parade Yonkers Dominican Heritage Celebration is at City Hall in Yonkers, New York; on July 8, 2025. 🇩🇴
Parade Press Conference
The 43rd National Dominican Day Parade Press Conference is at Alianza Dominicana Cultural Center in Washington Heights, Manhattan; on July 22, 2025. 🇩🇴
Manhattan Dominican Heritage Celebration
The 43rd National Dominican Day Parade Manhattan Dominican Heritage Celebration features Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine with special guests, local talent, and light refreshments; at United Palace Theatre in Washington Heights, Manhattan; on July 31, 2025, at 6pm (5:30pm doors). Free with rsvp. 🇩🇴
Gala
The 43rd National Dominican Day Parade 2025 Gala is at the Greentree Country Club in New Rochelle, Westchester, New York; on Friday, August 8, 2025, at 8pm. 🇩🇴
Parade
The 43rd National Dominican Day Parade 2025 marches up Sixth Avenue (Avenue of the Americas); on Sunday, August 10, 2025, at 11am. 🇩🇴
Scholarships
National Dominican Day Parade scholarships provide more than just money for school. Winners are mentored and introduced to the community which provides invaluable exposure. Dominicans are very pega’o (stuck together), and the Parade is no different.
The scholarship program is a series of events:
- The application period runs from August 1 to September, 26, 2025.
- Eligible students can complete a detailed application between October 13 – December 12, 2025.
- Semi-finalists will be announced on January 16, 2026.
- Winners will be announced on March 13, 2026.
Honorees
Grand Marshall is Nelson Cruz, the Major League Baseball designated hitter who gained fame playing for the Texas Rangers.
42nd National Dominican Day Parade 2024
The National Dominican Day Parade is actually a series of community events.
Parade Theme 2024
Merengue: Nuestro Ritmo (Merengue: Our Rhythm)
Put on merengue, and Dominican hips start moving. It’s mesmerizing. We never saw anything like it ~ until we lived in La República Dominicana. The dance is in 2/4 time so its easy, like all the oldest dances. If you have two feet, just step back and forth on the beat and let your hips swing. It’s really fun.
#MerengueNuestroRitmo
Parade Scholarships 2024
Since 2015, the Parade has delivered almost a million dollars in scholarships to last year high school and higher education students of Dominican descent. You can make it in New York without an education, but it really helps. It’s one of the traditional ways New York families raise themselves up.
- Scholarship applications (takes less than 5 minutes) are due by Sunday, April 14, 2024 at natddp.org 🇩🇴
- Winners are announced on Friday, August 9, 2024.
- Funds are handed out at a Scholarship Ceremony on Wednesday, November 20, 2024.
Kick-Off Event 2024
Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson leads the Bronx Dominican Heritage Celebration kick-off to the 42nd National Dominican Day Parade 2024; at the Bronx County Building in Concourse, The Bronx; on Thursday, May 2, 2024. Invitation only. 🇩🇴
Honorees 2024
El Gran Mariscal: Los Hermanos Rosario
El Rey del Desfile: Jochy Santos
El Rey Internacional: Bulin 47
El Padrino: Pedro Brache Álvarez
Cacique del emprendimiento: Antonio Espaillat
Ambassador of Community Services: Jacqueline Guilamo
Ambassador of Culture: Amaurys Grullon
Ambassador of Governmental Stewardship: Ariana Collado
Ambassador of Innovation: Denise Felipe Adams
Ambassador of Excellence in Government: Zoila Del Castillo
Ambassador of Excellence in Sports: Esmery Martinez
Ambassador of Media: Alfredo Acosta (NBC)
Ambassador of Media: Eliecer Marte (PIX 11)
Ambassador of Public Service: Deputy Chief Jose Frias
Ambassador of Strategic Servics: Deputy Mayor Ana J. Almanzar
Embajador de Excelencia en Periodismo: Manuel Ruiz (TeleMicro)
Embajador de Negocios: Ramon Fausto Cabral
Embajador de Radio y Entretenimiento: DJ Aneudy (La Mega)
Bronx Borough Dominican Honoree: Janet Peguero
Bronx Borough Dominican Honoree: Fernando Ortiz
Bronx Borough Dominican Honoree: Pedro Rivera
Bronx Borough Adopted Dominican Honoree: Anderson Torres
Brooklyn Borough Dominican Honoree: Michael Cruz
Brooklyn Borough Dominican Honoree: Modesto Flako Jimenez
Brooklyn Borough Adopted Dominican Honoree: Michelle Neugebauer
Manhattan Borough Dominican Honoree: Led Black
Manhattan Borough Dominican Honoree: Yokarina Duarte
Manhattan Borough Adopted Dominican Honoree: Luis A. Miranda, Jr.
Yonkers Adopted Dominican Honoree: Winston Brewster
Yonkers Dominican Honoree: Wilson Terrero
Lifetime Achievement Award: Felix Cabrera
Gala Benefit MC: Rafael Bello
Yonkers Dominican Heritage Celebration
Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano honors Wilson Terrero and “Adopted Dominican” Winston Brewster; at Yonkers City Hall in Yonkers, New York; on Tuesday, July 16, 2024. 🇩🇴
Brooklyn Dominican Day Resource Fair
The Brooklyn Dominican Day Resource Fair is at Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation in Cypress Hills, Brooklyn; on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. 🇩🇴
Parade Gala 2024
The National Dominican Day Parade Gala features cocktails, dinner and dancing merengue to Los Hermanos Rosario; at the Greentree Country Club near the beach in New Rochelle, New York (just north of Pelham Bay Park); on Friday, August 9, 2024 at 8pm. It always sells out. 🇩🇴
It’s a really fun night of networking, cocktails, dining, and dancing with leaders of New York’s Dominican community.
Parade 2024
The 42nd National Dominican Day Parade 2024, marches up Sixth Avenue (Avenue of the Americas) from 37th St to 55th St;d on Sunday, August 11, 2024, starting at 12noon. 🇩🇴
Bring your flag, güiro, and good vibes.
National Dominican Day Parade
New York City’s National Dominican Day Parade, on the second Sunday in August, celebrates “El Grito de Capotillo” the call for independence from Spain (for the second time) on August 16, 1863, which is now celebrated as Dominican Restoration Day.
Some years ago, the Parade was broken by leadership problems. Maria Khury of Alta Travel USA is the Dominican New Yorker who cleaned out the mess and rebuilt an organization that all Dominicans can be proud of. Khury keeps working to bring people together with the Dominican American Chamber of Commerce, a business development organization that unites Dominicans and Latino organizations from several other countries. It’s a great idea because we are stronger together, and the Dominican Republic has a long tradition of bringing Latin peoples together. dachamber.org
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