Native Colombian music filled up 34th Avenue in Jackson Heights Saturday as the community gathered for a multicultural celebration for Colombia’s Independence Day.
“Viva Colombia,” Edgar Rubiano, a native of Bogota, Colombia, said.
What You Need To Know
- Jackson Heights celebrated Colombia’s Independence Day Saturday with a multicultural celebration on 34th Avenue
- State Senator Jessica Ramos says the area is known as "little Colombia" since Jackson Heights has the largest Colombian population in the city
- The celebration also included a health and wellness fair from 79th to 82nd Streets with tents that had at-home COVID-19 tests and health resources
Rubiano has been living in Jackson Heights for 13 years and couldn’t help but join in on the day’s festivities.
“I love to celebrate my independence from my country,” he said. “We can share our things, food, our customs. Everybody’s welcome.”
Festival Colombiano was organized by State Senator Jessica Ramos. She said the area is known as "little Colombia" since Jackson Heights has the largest Colombian population in the city.
“I hope that everyone else gets to know a lil more about Colombian culture just like I enjoy learning about so many cultures that are represented right here in the most diverse district in the whole country,” Ramos said.
The celebration also included a health and wellness fair. Attendees walked from 79th to 82nd Streets to visit tents like the Boy Scouts Troop 201, who signed folks up for blood donations. Other vendors handed out at-home COVID-19 tests and performed on-site health screenings.
There were also plenty of activities for the young ones.
“We get to make bracelets, see dances and many other cool stuff,” 10-year-old Dipika Basnet said.
Camila Soto, 11, and the Alma mariachi group were also in attendance to share some Mexican culture with neighbors.
“I like to see people laughing and make people smile when they see me sing,” Soto said.
With so much diverse music, many neighbors were drawn to the street to dance.
“I live on the corner and the music brought me here,” Ligia Penagoa, a Jackson Heights resident, said.
“Happy, everybody seems to be happy,” Barbie Anne, a Jackson Heights resident of 60 years, added.