Another year, another fabulous Gathering in downtown Waterbury! This annual festival celebrates the many different cultures that have found their way to the Brass City throughout its history. The event's slogan is "We all came from somewhere, now it's time to come together."
As in the past, I've divided up my photos into two blog posts: one of the parade, and one of the celebration in Library Park.
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| Lining up on East Main Street -- Dominican Republic |
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Support for Puerto Rico and Mexico, both reeling from catastrophic disasters,
was visible throughout the day. |
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| Colombia |
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| Police Pipes & Drums of Waterbury |
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| Flags of Ireland and the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians |
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Waterbury police kept everyone marching in the right direction
(and kept oblivious drivers from interrupting the parade) |
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The Mattatuck Drum Band is the oldest fife and drum band in the United States
with continuous membership since it was formed in 1767. |
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| Civil War reenactors |
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| City officials and local dignitaries |
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| Mayor O'Leary, Rep. Elizabeth Esty, Police Chief Riddick, and local dignitaries. |
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| Living horses gazing toward the horse fountain on the Green |
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| Zequir "Ziggy" Berusha added Albanian flair to his regular US flag outfit |
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| Lithuania |
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| Police Pipes & Drums |
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| Flags of Ireland |
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| Flags of Ireland |
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| Maloney Interdistrict Magnet School |
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| Maloney Interdistrict Magnet School |
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| UNICO and flags of Italy |
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| UNICO and flags of Italy |
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| Puerto Rican pride |
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| Colombia |
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| Colombia |
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| Colombia |
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| Colombia |
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| Guyana -- parade pros, with great festive music playing |
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| Guyana |
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| Guyana |
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| Guyana |
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| Colombia finishing their loop around the Green |
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| Colombia |
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| Colombia |
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| Literacy Volunteer of Greater Waterbury helps adults learn to read and write English |
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| Ecuador brought a live band to the parade |
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| Map of Puerto Rico carried by students from Crosby High School |
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| Cape Verdean Social Club |
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| Cape Verde |
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| Dominican Republic |
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| Dominican Republic |
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| Trinidad & Tobago |
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| Trinidad & Tobago |
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| Trinidad & Tobago |
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| Muslim women representing multiple countries |
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| Brazil |
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| Brazil |
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| Paraguay |
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The man with the plan: John Murray, smiling to see
his vision of The Gathering realized for the fifth year in a row. |
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| Puerto Rico |
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| Albania |
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| Albania |
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| Albania |
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| Albania |
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| Ecuador brought a smoking volcano |
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| South End Cheerleaders |
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| Mexico |
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| Mexico |
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| Mexico -- the kids are wearing sashes with the names of their schools |
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| Mexico, with prayers for Mexico and Puerto Rico |
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| Mexico |
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| Mexico |
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| Cape Verde, dancing all the way through downtown Waterbury |
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| St. Lucia |
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| Brazil |
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| Berkeley Knights Drill Team & Drum Corps |
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| Cape Verde reaching the end of the parade |
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| Cape Verde, still dancing! |
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| QUEST (Queer Unity Empowerment Support Team) |
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| Dominican Republic |
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| Dominican Republic |
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| Dominican Republic |
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| Dominican Republic |
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| Dominican Republic |
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| Trinidad & Tobago, feeling the weight of the feathers in the hot sun |
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| Brazil |
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| Cameras everywhere: local social media has been flooded with images and videos of The Gathering |
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