Fireworks kick off July 4th weekend

Thousands of people filled Orchard Beach to kick off 4th of July weekend festivities on the last day of June.

Bronx borough president Ruben Diaz, Jr. and state Sen. Jeff Klein hosted the event, which also featured music from Alive N’ Kickin’, an empanada-eating contest and a fireworks display.

Beach-goers spent the evening listening to live music as the crowd continued to grow until 9:30 p.m., when the fireworks began.

Even Mr. Diaz got into the fun during the empanada-eating contest, rapping along to 90’s hip-hop, as contestants competed to see who could eat eight beef empanadas first.

“This is the time [when] we get to celebrate that we are blessed to live in the greatest country on Earth,” Mr. Diaz said in a speech at the start of the event. “We come from all over the globe and we find a home here, which is where we raise our children, where we raise our families.”

Both Mr. Diaz and Mr. Klein gave repeated thanks to members of the audience, who included veterans and members of the military.

“Each and every day, the freedoms that we enjoy, the coinage used to secure those freedoms are the veterans that are here today,” Mr. Klein said.

Many groups of friends and families at the beach have been attending the event every year. Those regulars included Jessica Casanova and her mother Sandra.

“I used to bring her here when she was a baby,” Sandra Casanova said. “It’s a great party here every year.”

Now, Jessica Casanova has spent the better part of the past decade bringing her own children to the annual celebration, passing on some of her childhood memories to them.

“We enjoy it because we are from the area, so we have to come and represent,” she said. “Everybody comes and enjoys themselves with family and friends.”

Others said they did not even know about the fireworks, but were attracted to the music and crowds.  Gonzala and Sheena Francis spent the day at the beach and stayed for the reminder of the evening to see the fireworks.

“I’ve been dying to come back to the beach,” Gonzala Francis said. “We didn’t know about this show until we got here, so we decided to stay.”

Just as Alive N’ Kickin’ left the stage, Mr. Diaz marveled at the massive group of people, which had gathered on the beach.

“I wish you guys could see it from this angle,” he said from the stage. “But there are tens of thousands of people here right now, this is an amazing turnout.”