panamanian day parade | NYC Parade Life

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Panamanians Celebrate Independence In Grand Style on Franklin Avenue in Brooklyn

**Beautiful Marcher Wearing a Traditional Pollera**

The largest celebration of Panamanian Independence outside of Panama was celebrated on Franklin Avenue in Brooklyn. This year was more special than in previous years as the First Lady of Panama, Maricel Cohen de Mulino, was an Honored Guest and mixed in with an adoring crowd. The Mayor of Panama City was also on hand waving a large Panamanian flag and adding to the energy of the cloudy but festive day. One of the biggest attraction of this parade are the select schools of Panama that send their marching bands to play some fine tunes for the crowd. They have some of the best looking uniforms of all the parades I go to in NYC.

**Band Leader Getting the Band Ready to Roll**

Parade organizers, DICPNY, do a great job in putting on a fantastic event with groups coming directly from Panama, Florida, Georgia, Maryland and of course plenty of local talent. All marchers present their offering to the VIP stage where the event is televised back to Panama. At the end of the parade route, the festivities continued with food vendors serving up Panamanian food and a stage was set up for more entertainment. Panamanians have their own style of marching with hard rhythmic drum beats and blaring bugles that can be heard blocks away. It is truly one of the best neighborhood parades in NYC.

The parade starts with the mounted police signaling to the crowd the event is about to begin. Dignitaries, Grand Marshalls, VIPs and parade organizers march on Franklin Ave. to the VIP stage and await the marchers performance. The first groups to get the crowd worked up are the International student musical bands from different parts of Panama. They were amazing and I’ve included video highlights of their performance. A new comer to the parade this year was the Marching Band group from Orlando, Florida. They had lots of energy and got the crowd worked up. This years honorees were the Panamanian Marching Band from Atlanta, Georgia. Their large band were one of the best parts of the event. Local marching bands from Brooklyn always close out the show with their high energy and precision. Panamanians sure know how to throw a party. Que Viva Panama!!!!