New YOrk Citywide celebrations for Haitian heritage. Ayiti: Ti peyi, Gwo sekous.

Citywide celebrations for Haitian heritage
Sunday, May 17th 2009, 4:00 AM

The observance this month of Haitian Heritage Month, which includes tomorrow's commemoration of Flag Day, is being celebrated in New York with a parade and festival in Brooklyn and other activities around the city.

Decorative floats, traditional costumes and loads of compas, meringue and roots music will be in play next Sunday at the Haitian Day Parade and Festival in Brooklyn.

The Brooklyn activities actually begin on Saturday with a noon religious service at St. Gregory Roman Catholic Church, Brooklyn Ave. and St. John's Place.

Bishop Guy Sansaricq, the first Haitian-American Catholic bishop in America, will preside over the Mass.

The following day, the big parade will step off from Nostrand Ave., between Linden Blvd. and Martense St. The gathering time is 11 a.m.

The festival will be held on Nostrand Ave., between Foster Ave. and Farragut Road, and will include Djarara, Rozna Zilla, Anacaona, Zetwal, Mikerline Troupe of Dance and Untouchable's DJs, games, rides and a petting zoo, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. For parade and festival information, call (718) 434-9250, or visit www.haitianparade.com.

Two respected Haitian singer-activists, the late Martha Jean-Claude and Farah Juste, will be honored today at a Brooklyn concert, where Juste will perform works by Jean-Claude. The concert, which also stars other popular performers, will be held at Medgar Evers College, 1650 Bedford Ave., from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Juste, who fled the repressive rule of François (Papa Doc) Duvalier, and is known for her politically charged songs, will be performing works from an album called "A Tribute to Martha Jean-Claude." Jean-Claude was imprisoned in Haiti for her works and gained international popularity during exile in Cuba.

Call Haiti Liberté, the event co-sponsor, at (718) 421-0162 for information. Tickets are $30 at the door.

There will be a Haitian Flag Day reception at City Hall in Manhattan tomorrow, and in the evening, Haiti's Barikad Crew and the popular band Carimi will be performing at S.O.B.'s, 204 Varick St. (at Houston St.) in a Haitian Flag Day show, hosted by Papa Jube and J. Mignon. There will be special guest artists and dance music by DJ Spike T.I.

The show is being presented in conjunction with the French Institute Alliance Francaise. Showtime is 10 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 9 p.m. Admission is $22 in advance and $25 on the day of the show.

Back at S.O.B.'s on Friday, the Manhattan Haitian Dance Party series features T-Vice and Harmonik. Doors open at 11 p.m. and showtimes are midnight and 2 a.m. Tickets are $35 in advance. Call S.O.B.'s at (212) 243-4940.