By Journalist Dr. Ms. Jones
NEWBURGH – The City of Newburgh celebrated its 35th Annual International Festival Friday through Sunday during Labor Day weekend. It was located at Delano-Hitch Recreation Park. The community enjoyed rides, games, and authentic international food.
“So, when this started years ago, we would have a little bit of variety of all the different food cultures when we were down at the river at the waterfront… Once all the local businesses came, it would impede with their business, so we had to move it up here. So, we try to get different food trucks offering different things… give it a little diversity and everything. We used to have bands. We would have a stage with bands… and just bring a little bit of culture to the community,” said Maritza Wilson, Event Coordinator, who is hoping to have a stage again next year. “We had so many different [bands] from the 60s, 70s, 80s. We had a few of the youth from the community that would come and perform. We had kids from San Miguel in the past dress up in their attire and dance different dances. We had a lot of the churches that had the gospel praise dancing. It’d be nice to see more of the faith-based [groups] come back, as well as other community groups.”
Rico Prado has been coming to the festival for 20 years. He lives down the street and walks to the festival.
“I live right there across the street in the Kenny Apartments… We come every year,” said Prado who brought his own lawn chair to sit in with his son Rico Prado, Jr. and reflected on all of the things they do Labor Day weekend. “We’ll go do different things, like I will take him swimming, maybe cook out, [and] enjoy our days.”
Prado, Jr. enjoyed riding the rides before school started. He shared the ones he likes the best.
“I like the fair. It’s very entertaining. They should make it a little bit bigger, with more rides… and a ride that would spin fast and then go up,” said Prado Jr. “[I also like] the food, so you don’t have to leave and get food.”
His favorite food at the festival was pretzels with cheese. The festival offered traditional “fair” foods like cotton candy, popcorn, and fried Oreos. They also had food from other countries, like chicharrónes. Food trucks offered ethnic foods and drinks ranging from horchata, tortas, sope, quesadillas, huaraches, carne asada fries, chorizo, falafel, lamb, gyros, and more! Antojitos on Wheels, Mexican food truck, celebrated their last day in business during the International Festival.
“We usually park here at the Rec… People like it, especially because there’s a lot of parking and they can park…. We were there every day, except on Wednesdays. We stayed up to 11, 12 o’clock,” said Hely Cortes who owned the truck with her husband Mario Reyes. “Without you guys, we wouldn’t have made it for three years. Now, it’s gonna be a sad goodbye, but it’s for the best.”
The community enjoyed the food and festivities. Even the Auxiliary Police delighted in interacting with the public.
“I enjoy working [The International Festival] because I love to see the kids have some fun… gives them something to do. They’re not on the street. They enjoy themselves. They interact with us. They’re used to police coming around. They want to give us a high five…They enjoy themselves… They learn that we can all get together [peacefully],” said Inspector George Barton. “When this comes, I gotta be here, whether I’m working it or not… I enjoy it more working it because when the next generation of children come around, they see that the police are their friends. So usually what you used to get when you come around, as a police officer, they run the other way. But not here… They want to take pictures… give you a hug. [It] kind of makes you feel wanted.”
Journalist Ms. Jones