The Colombian Independence Day Festival, an annual tradition in Queens since 1984, has in effect been canceled due to the debts Centro Civico Colombiano, an Elmhurst group that puts on the event every year, owes to the city Parks Department, a spokeswoman from the department said.
The festival has been a colorful draw to Flushing Meadows Corona Park every July, but Parks said the center has not paid up on $17,000 from last year’s festival.
“Parks will not discuss having an event with the group until their outstanding debt is paid in full,” a spokeswoman said.
Centro Civico Colombiano, at 90-37 Corona Ave. in Elmhurst, still advertises the festival on its website for July 24 at centrocivicol.com. Calls to the civic’s executive director, Adolfo Sanchez, were not returned.
The festival historically attracted more than 500,000 a year, the civic’s website said.
— Rebecca Henely
