At the corner of Kingsbridge Road and Jerome Avenue, amid snow, onlookers were attracted to the sounds of tambourines clanging and drumbeats popping from a roving band of residents in Kingsbridge Heights celebrating the Caribbean-born holiday of parranda.
The holiday, usually celebrated during the Christmas season in the Caribbean, saw participants singing lively songs throughout Kingsbridge Heights, a largely minority neighborhood that’s home to Puerto Ricans and Dominicans. The island of Puerto Rico is known to celebrate parranda yearly.
Jose Ortiz, a.k.a. Dr. Drum of BombaYo Culture En Vivo, a music group, led the crowd along Kingsbridge Heights on Jan. 14, spreading cheerful Caribbean beats to several neighborhood mom and pop stores. He led the charge with help from Samelys Lopez, a community activist; Miriam Quinones, a freelance photographer; Urban Prophets; Community Board 7 members; and members of the Kingsbridge Road Merchant Association.