RI Dominican Parade & Festival – Manny Ramirez, Grand Marshal

Rhode Island Dominican Parade officials announced that parade’s Grand Marshal will be former Major League Baseball (MLB) Player Manny Ramirez. The parade will be Sunday, August 7th, starting at 10am. Live music from noon to 8pm.

The Tribute to Our Youth and our Local Talent, the Annual Dominican Cultural Parade kicks off a day of entertainment. The Parade procession begins at the intersection of Thurbers’ Avenue and Broad Street marching towards the Roger Williams Park’s Broad Street entrance.

Ramirez, a retired baseball outfielder, is a native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and played in the league for 19 seasons. The Dominican-American baseball player is considered one of the greatest right-handed hitters in the history of the game.

Additional Grand Marshalls:

• Elaine Collado, Miss Rhode Island USA, 
  Kenny Arias, Director, Youth Sports City of Providence. 
  Steve Pare, Commissioner of Public Safety, City of Providence
  Mercedes Mendez, Entrepreneur, 
  Huascar Montilla-Entrepreneur.

Following the parade the festivities include performances from internationally recognized performers, the Grand Marshals Award, and remarks from elected officials and several of Rhode Island’s leading Dominican-American business and community leaders…

Miriam Cruz, a merengue music awards winner and known as one of the tropical music most important female orchestras worldwide;

Karlos Rosé, a Dominican Bachata and EhShawnee Salsa artist.

The Festival is comprised of 250 youth performers representing summer camps, sports leagues, dance and modeling academies focusing their performances on folkloric and theatrical carnival themes. The parade will include floats from different countries, Latino organizations, colorful folkloric dancers and more. 

The Annual Dominican Cultural Parade & Music Festival Rhode Island is organized by Quisqueya in Action, a nonprofit organization with a mission to preserve the traditional values of the Dominican community in Rhode Island. For three decades, the quality of the event and attendance ranks the Dominican Parade & Music Festival Rhode Island one of the most important Hispanic events in New England. 

This is Southern New England’s largest Dominican Festival, made possible with the financial support of following sponsors:  

Jorge Elorza, Mayor of City of Providence, City of Providence Office of Arts, Culture & Tourism, Art Commission, Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island, TUFTS Health Plan, Blue Cross/ Blue Shield of Rhode Island, Commonwealth Health Commission, Joy Home Care, Inc. .Herb Chambers Honda Seekonk, The Bomes Theater/El Ninja Restaurant, Bay Coast Bank, Bank Newport, PVD Bike Coalition, and Skills for Rhode Island Future.