Dominican Day Parade in New York 2025

The Dominican Day Parade in New York celebrates and showcases the rich cultural heritage of the Dominican community in the city. It is an event with music, dance and regional costumes, and it brings many people together each year on 6th Avenue in New York. In 2025 the Dominican Day Parade will be held on August 10.

What is there to do during the Dominican Day Parade in New York?

The Dominican Day Parade in New York follows along Sixth Avenue (Avenue of the Americas) starting at 12:00 in the afternoon. The parade route runs from 37th Street to 55th Street. On other dates, there are smaller parades in the Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn, but this is the largest and attracts more than 400,000 people.

The Dominican Day in New York is a great chance to experience Caribbean culture and enjoy a full-fledged Dominican party. Don’t be afraid to join the crowd and dance!

What to expect at the Dominican Day Parade?

The Dominican Parade travels down the Avenue of the Americas and consists of more than 40 floats and over 10,000 participants. Music is a very important part of Dominican culture, so the national parade is not to be missed. Folkloric rhythms, modern pop, salsa and, above all, merengue: everything has its place at this festival.

Diverse performers can be seen dressed in spectacular costumes of feathers and ornaments and wearing original masks with special symbolism. One of them is the ‘Diablo Cojuelo’ (meaning the limping devil), the main character of the Dominican carnival. It is a tradition that the ‘diablos cojuelos’ hit you with their leather balloons, so just in case, don’t stand too close or you might get hurt!

Another typical character is ‘Roba la Gallina’ (chicken thief), who satirises the way people used to steal chickens from farms. You’ll also see Dominican beauty queens in their finery and entertainers and artists of all kinds.

When is the Dominican Day Parade in New York?

The Dominican Day Parade takes place in New York in August, usually on the second Sunday of the month. In 2025, the parade will be held on August 10. The parade starts at noon and runs through the afternoon, providing hours of entertainment and celebration.

What is celebrated during the Dominican Day Parade?

In this colourful and rhythmic summer parade, Dominicans commemorate the anniversary of the battle for independence from Spain in the Restoration War in 1863, as well as the contributions of Dominicans to the United States. The parade plays a key role in the development of New York’s Dominican community, including raising funds for scholarships.

The New York Dominican Parade began in 1982 as a series of concerts and cultural activities organised by Dominican Americans. Dominicans are the fastest-growing Latino group in New York, ahead of even Mexicans and Puerto Ricans.