Bergenline Avenue was host to a massive Hispanic State Parade on Sunday, October 16. The event was postponed from two weeks earlier.
The parade is one of the many ways that North Bergen and the other North Hudson municipalities celebrate Latin culture and history during Hispanic Heritage Month.
This year was the 47th Hispanic State Parade of New Jersey, having been a tradition since at least 1976.
On that sunny Sunday, thousands of people were estimated to be in attendance. The parade saw participants from across the state represent 21 Hispanic countries.
Crowds thronged both sides of the avenue as dozens of floats and countless dancers, singers, performers, and others passed by.
The parade marched down Bergenline Avenue beginning at 79th Street in North Bergen, proceeding through both Guttenberg and West New York, and culminating at 43rd Street in Union City.
Among the honored guests leading the festivities were North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco, Union City Mayor Brian Stack, West New York Mayor Gabriel Rodriguez, and Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner.
Also leading the parade were Commissioners Hugo Cabrera, Julio Marenco, and Allen Pascual, Township Administrator Janet Castro, Police Chief Peter Fasilis, Hudson County Sheriff Frank Schillari, Assemblypersons Angelica Jimenez and Pedro Mejia, 8th Congressional District candidate Robert Menendez Jr., and many other local and state officials.
After the parade, Sacco said: “Had a wonderful time at the 2022 Hispanic American parade of New Jersey. North Bergen and Hudson County is so diverse and we are proud to celebrate all of the nationalities and cultures that make us who we are!”
“It was an incredible honor to march in this year’s Hispanic State Parade as the Hombre del Año,” Menendez added. “The parade spectacularly celebrates our diverse, civically-engaged, and successful Hispanic community in the 8th Congressional District, which I am so proud to be a part of. And I am especially glad that we were able to stand alongside our friends from across the county, Union City, Mayor Stack, North Bergen Mayor Sacco, West New York Mayor Rodriguez, Weehawken Mayor Turner, officials from Guttenberg and their teams and my great friend Assemblyman Mukherji.”
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