Thousands of spectators lined Northern Boulevard Sunday, Aug. 7, as the 37th Ecuadorian Parade NYC 2022 stepped off at noon at 69th Street in Woodside and made its way east through Jackson Heights to 87th Street.
The flag-bearing crowd showed their pride with many dressed in the national colors of their homeland — yellow, red, and blue — while representing the more than 200,000 Ecuadorian-American that have settled in Queens.
The extravaganza marks Ecuador’s Independence Day celebrated on Aug. 10, on the anniversary of the 1809 rebellion against Spain that began in Quito, which is now the South American nation’s national capital. The uprising set off a chain of events that led to liberator Simón Bolivar declaring war on the Spanish colonial authorities.
On Oct. 9, 1820, Guayaquil became the first city to gain its independence from Spain. The rest of the country celebrated their independence following their victory at the Battle of Pichincha under the command of Bolívar on May 24, 1822.
The parade along Northern Boulevard was part of a series of events across Queens that began with an Independence Day Celebration at Borough Hall, featuring several musical and dancing performances and Ecuadorian food on Aug. 3 and a gala banquet at Flushing Meadows Corona Park two days later, culminating with the 39th Ecuadorian Festival 2022 at the New York Hall of Science on Sunday, Aug. 14 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“I was thrilled to host my first Ecuadorian Independence Day Celebration at Borough Hall with Councilman Francisco Moya, the Ecuadorian Civic Committee of New York and many proud Ecuadorians Americans who call Queens home,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards. “It was a great cap off to the celebrations at the Ecuadorian Parade in Jackson Heights, and recognize the organizers by presenting them with an official proclamation. We thank our Ecuadorian community for everything they do to make our borough and city a better place.”
