Fordham Plaza was a bustling scene of revelry, dance, food, and family activities on April 15, as musicians, dancers, and vendors returned for the fourth annual Bronx Celebration Day.

Andrew Harris dances on a stage with speakers on either side of him, and tents behind him.
Andrew Harris gives salsa lessons at Bronx Celebration Day.

The afternoon event, which took place across East Fordham Road from the Rose Hill campus, was sponsored by the student organization Fordham Club at Rose Hill, the Bronx Night Market, and Fordham Road Business Improvement District.

It featured three food trucks, face painting, temporary tattoo and bubble-making booths, and tables from groups such as the health care provider Metro Plus and the New York Public Library, which distributed Spider-Man theme library cards.

Sophia Maier stands in front of a microphone
Fordham students Sophia Maier and Jack Moses welcome attendees to the Bronx Celebration Day.

Performances featured Fordham a cappella groups the Ramblers and Hot Notes, the Fordam hip-hop troupe Fordham Flava, and performers Andrew Harris and Dr. Drum and BombaYo.

Sophia Maier, a senior at Fordham College at Rose Hill majoring in history and American Studies and minoring in Spanish, and two other FCRH students, Natalie Huntoon, and Jack Moses, spent four months organizing the event.

“In the four years I’ve been here, I’ve gone out of my way to get involved in the Bronx, which is truly the place we live,” Maier said.

“I absolutely love being here.”

Dr. Drum with teaches Bomba at Bronx Celebration Day in Fordham Plaza, organized by Fordham Club of Fordham University in the Bronx, April 15, 2023.
Dr. Drum teaches Bomba at the Bronx Celebration Day in Fordham Plaza.

One of the Fordham Club’s goals is to get the University and Fordham students to get more involved in the Bronx community, she said

“The Bronx is part of Fordham, and we have all of this amazing talent off campus,” she said. At the same time, there are student groups that Bronx residents may not naturally get the chance to engage with.

““The Bronx Celebration Day brings that all together,” she said.

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Patrick Verel is a news producer for Fordham Now. He can be reached at [email protected] or (212) 636-7790.