Mona Mahadevan photos
Geanni Center Step Team steps fiercely down Dixwell.
Alanna Herbert led the way.
The organizers gathered for a celebratory post-parade photo.
Donning a sparkly pink gown and regal tiara, Alanna Herbert cupped her hand and waved to hundreds of cheering spectators along Dixwell Avenue.
As the first-ever Freddy Fixer Parade Queen and 2024’s Miss Puerto Rico of Greater New Haven, she said it felt “empowering” to wear crowns that honor each side of her mixed-race heritage.
Herbert rode in a small, cream-colored convertible at the head of the Freddy Fixer parade on Sunday afternoon, leading 87 floats of marching bands, synchronized dancers, and community groups from Bassett Street to Lake Place.
The parade originated in 1962 as part of a clean-up initiative in Newhallville and Dixwell. Over six decades later, Freddy Fixer has grown into a celebration of Black history, culture, and resilience, in New Haven and beyond.
That legacy drew out-of-towners Jade Smith, Tori Torres, and Frankie Brooks, who made the trip from Boston on the advice of their Connecticut-born boss. Between bites of rainbow Italian ice, Smith said, “Everything and everyone here is so beautiful.” After the parade, they planned to drive to New York City and walk around Times Square. The short trip to New Haven, Brooks added, was “completely worth it,” and they are already considering a return trip for next year’s Freddy Fixer.
Down the street, three generations of the Foreman family – grandmother Valerie, mother Jau, and daughter Ja’niyah – beamed when a sequin-clad drill team stopped in front of them. “My favorite part is when they stop, because that means they’re about to bust a move!” said Jau.
As Valerie recalled watching her kids march with a radio station, another generation seemed ready to join in. Pointing to the dancers, Ja’niyah exclaimed, “I want to be in the parade!”
Among the participants, Quan Brommell, a drummer with the Blue Steel Drum Line, has attended the Freddy Fixer parade since he was two years old. He keeps returning, he said, because he loves to see “everybody come[] together, regardless of where they’re from, like a family.” He added that since the pandemic, the crowd seems to grow every year.
This year’s parade was the first in over a decade under new leadership, as long-time Elm City Freddy Fixer Parade Committee (ECFFPC) members Diane Brown and Petisia Adger stepped down from their top roles. In their place, ECFFPC President Reese McLeod-Brunson led the effort, with support from ECFFPC committees and community volunteers. The 2025 theme – honoring the past and inspiring the future – was chosen in part to reflect that leadership transition, said McLeod-Brunson.
Looking to the future, McLeod added that she wants next year’s parade to be “bigger and better,” setting a goal of topping 100 floats.
On Sunday, Jeri Rivera-Parkman made the trip from Manchester to watch her 16-year-old daughter Tessa perform with the Geanni Center step team. It was her first time at Freddy Fixer. She is drawn to events “full of culture and community” and can see the parade becoming an annual tradition for her family. Over the steady beat of marching band drums, she added as her daughter’s “#1 supporter,” she would definitely be back next year to watch Tessa perform.
Click here to read more Independent coverage of this year’s parade, as seen through the camera lens of photographer Chris Randall.
Venita Freeman poses, while her 10-month-old nephew Jayce stares at the drummers.
The TVE Dance Studio's Tesla cybertruck and transformer!
Dancers from Studi143 twirled down Dixwell Ave. in long white dresses.
The Ebony Horsewomen say hello.
Three generations of Foremans plus one-year-old pup Bella!
Siblings Cianna Battle and LaDrea Moss pose in front of a pop-up with their clothing line, Mindless Thoughts, as the parade processes past them.
