Industry City hosts second annual Posada celebration

For the second straight year, Industry City got in the holiday spirit and held a party to celebrate Las Posadas, the traditional Mexican Christmas celebration.

On Saturday, December 19, around 300 people showed up to celebrate the holiday and enjoy festivities for attendees of all ages, such as games for kids, food, crafts, face-painting, piñatas and entertainment, including a magician and two young local singers known for participating in “La Voz Kids,”  the Spanish-language kid version of the television show, “The Voice.” Nine-year-old Ana Sofia Rodriguez from Bay Ridge and 12-year-old Dany Peña of Queens sang traditional Mexican holiday songs.

“It was quite lovely. Lots of families showed up. It excited neighbors and partners in the community,” said Chief of Staff and Director of Community Engagement at Industry City, Cristal Rivera.

For the first time, the event was in partnership with Mixteca, a local nonprofit organization that focuses on the Mexican community in Sunset Park.

“In my opinion, it’s a way for people to see us as neighbors in a physical location that they can come to and enjoy themselves,” she said. “For second year, it was exciting that people kept coming back.”

Rivera also stated that the celebration gave locals an opportunity to see what Industry City has to offer. “Once you come here for the first time, you are blown away with what it includes,” she said. “Outside, it doesn’t show what’s happening inside. We hope the exposure helps people get excited to visit us again for other events. These events had a big following. It’s beautiful that we had it in this space.”

Local businesses from Fourth and Fifth Avenue were also a part of the day during the “Taste of Sunset Park” pop-up market which took place the same day. “They were happy to see local businesses selling local items in our space,” remarked Rivera.

Once the event was concluded, gifts were distributed to all kids in attendance. “It was nice for the kids. Magicians kept everyone’s attention,” added Rivera.

Rivera believes future events will broaden the appeal of Industry City. “Hopefully, we will have more events like Posada in 2016 so people can come and have unique experiences here,” she said. “It speaks to the importance of community to us in the broader sense of Sunset Park.”