Bronx Week Parade and Huge Success on Grand Concourse

 

Bronx Week Parade and Huge Success on Grand Concourse

By Robert Press

Sunday's Bronx Week Parade, Food Festival and Concert was moved back to its original site on the Grand Concourse where it was a success. Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson was joined by Co-Host Asha McKenzie of News 12 at the reviewing stand, and midway through the parade Bronx Borough President Gibson left the reviewing stand to become part of the Bronx Week Parade joining in with the people marching, holding up their signs, and taking cameo photos with them. 

It was said that since the event was not being held on Mosholu Parkway that there would be no participation from the Northwest Bronx, but that proved not to be true as the Bronx Community Board 7 banner marched down the Grand Concourse from the beginning at East 167th Street to the end at East 158th Street. The Northwest was also represented by MS 80, Intech Academy, and PS 94. Elected officials who marched in the parade included Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark, State Senator Robert Jackson, City Councilwoman Althea Stevens, and Assemblywoman Chantal Jackson. 

The parade lasted for over ninety minutes as over fifty-five different schools, organizations, or neighborhood groups marched down the Grand Concourse to just past the Bronx County Building. As for the Food Festival and Concert there was a bit of drama as the original bandstand was to large to fit where it had to go in Joyce Kilmer Park, so a second smaller bandstand was brought in that fit perfectly into the area allocated for the bandstand. Hundreds of people enjoyed a larger viewing area in the park than the tight cramped viewing area that was on Mosholu Parkway. The Food Festival was set up on the service road to the Grand Concourse from East 164th Street to and looping around East 161st Street along the side of the park and there seemed to be even more vendors this year. Mr. Freddy Perez who was in charge of the Food Festival and Concert was happy with the way things went in setting up, and said for next year it will be even easier to set up now that we know exactly what we need. 

Deputy Bronx Borough President Janet Peguero, Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson, and News 12 Reporter Asha McKenzie announced the marchers as they came before the reviewing stand. 

The Bronx Community Board 7 banner with State Senator Robert Jackson waving to Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson.

Middle School 80 in Van Cortlandt Village marched down the Grand Concourse.

InTech Academy from Kingsbridge marched. 

Students from PS 94 marched in the parade.

St. Raymond's school Marching Band.

The Crotona Naval and Marine Cadets. 

The 40 plus Double Dutch Club stopped to see who wanted to jump rope in front of the Bronx County Building as one Bronxnet employee took the club up on their offer.

The Bronx Museum marched.

It was a perfect opportunity for Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson to come down from the Reviewing stand to present a trophy to the Bronx Soccer Team. 

Bronx BP Gibson marched with the Garden of Learning and Discovery PreK Center.

Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson came down from the reviewing stand to join the parade and be in the photo with her African Advisory Council.

BP Gibson posing for photos with members of the African Community. 

Borough President Gibson took photos with the Bronx Gems.

BP Gibson also took photos with students of PS 53 who marched. 

BP Gibson and her Chief of Staff Justin Sanchez having some fun during the Bronx Week Parade on the Grand Concourse. 

BP Gibson marches with the Scan-Harbor Tigers.

BP Gibson took a photo with the Bronx Youth Empowerment Program. 

Borough President Gibson wound up dancing with the Hare Krishna members who were at the end of the parade.