https://dailygazette.com/artic...a-day-in-schenectady
As rain pelted against umbrellas, nearby car windshields and the grass in Grout Park, a thwack of a cricket bat cut through the air.
Dozens of players braved the steady showers throughout the day on Sunday to take part in games during Guyana Day in Schenectady. They were soon joined by community members looking to try Guyanese dishes, and dance along with Guyanese music.
“Even though the weather is bad, it’s an OK turnout because people love this event so much,” said Steve Ram, the lead organizer of Guyana Day.
The festival serves as a celebration of Guyanese culture and heritage, and as a way to bring the community together, organizers said. Schenectady boasts a strong Guyanese population, and Sunday marked the 13th year of the festival.
Guyana is a country of about 800,000 people in South America. It is bordered by Brazil and Venezuela, with strong cultural ties to nearby Caribbean nations.
The event typically draws thousands of people to Grout Park for cricket, free food, music, bouncy houses and other entertainment. However, a steady rain fell from dawn until dusk, keeping the attendance at bay for much of the day.
Despite the soggy conditions, hundreds of people still filtered in and out of the park, with the crowd growing by late afternoon. Several people assembled canopy tents to keep dry.
The event offered cricket, music, food, crafts and other entertainment. The Upstate New York Cricket Association is the main sponsor of the event, though local businesses pitch in services to help make it free to the public.
Many attendees experienced Guyana Day in Schenectady previously, while a few were getting their first glimpse of the event.
One woman, who came to Schenectady from Long Island specifically for the festival, said it was a nice community event, despite the rain. A Guyana native, the woman said her daughter now lives in Schenectady.
The celebration typically draws people from well outside Schenectady, Ram said, noting that many attendees had booked hotels after traveling from Canada and New York City.
“We try to bring people together,” Ram said. “We extend the invitation to as many people as possible.”
Organizers advertise the festivities through social media and through Guyanese-owned businesses, he said.
The poor weather forced him to eliminate certain activities, such as the bouncy houses, he said, but those who attended still showed great enthusiasm, Ram said.
Steve Weisse, who is part of the Upstate New York Cricket Association and helped Ram plan the event, said Guyana Day also celebrates the city’s diversity, which Weisse said is one of its greatest strengths.
“You have Italian Fest and Polish Fest, and everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day,” Weisse said. “Well, everybody is Guyanese on Guyana Day."
