NYC's National Dominican Day Parade returns to Manhattan

The National Dominican Day Parade returned to New York City on Sunday.

The event was expected to draw 400,000 spectators.

City officials gathered for the ribbon cutting to start the 44th annual event.

"More than 1 in 8 New Yorkers have Dominican roots, and today is a celebration of all that the community has given this city and we're so proud that so many Dominican New Yorkers know this city as their home," Mayor Zohran Mamdani said.

Gov. Kathy Hochul offered a show of solidarity with the Dominican people

"We honor them, we celebrate them. We also want to protect them from the overreach of ICE, which is terrifying people on our streets all across America. That has to stop. We're here in New York state to stand strong against the overreach," Hochul said.

What to know about the Dominican Day Parade

The National Dominican Day Parade started forming at 8 a.m. and stepped off at 11 a.m.

The theme was "Dominicanos: Identidad y Cultura," which translates to "Dominicans: Identity and Culture." Organizers said the parade was designed to "pay tribute to the legacy of the Dominican Republic and the deep cultural, social, and community ties that unite the Dominican people with the United States."

The grand marshal of this year's parade was Dr. Ramon Tallaj, founder of the Somos Community Care healthcare network. He said his organization cares for more than 1 million Medicaid recipients, which speaks to the hard-working, generous nature of the community.

"It's family. Believe in the Lord and at the same time, more importantly, we are people who work," Tallaj said.

NYC Dominican Day Parade street closures

The Department of Transportation announced the following road closures at the discretion of the NYPD:

• Sixth Avenue between 37th Street and 38th Street
• Sixth Avenue between 36th Street and 55th Street
• 36th Street between Broadway and Fifth Avenue
• 38th, 37th streets between Fifth Avenue and Seventh Avenue
• 55th Street between Fifth Avenue and Seventh Avenue

Dominican Day Parade security

The NYPD said there was more security at this year's event, with additional officers patrolling and using double barricades along the parade route.

On Friday, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said there were no known specific threats against the parade.

She also said additional officers were to continue patrolling the area after the parade ends, both on streets and in the subway system.