Rockaway Celebrates National Barbie Day!

By Katie McFadden

Those who stopped by the Rockaway YMCA last Saturday, March 8, were transported to a Barbie world. As part of a celebration for National Barbie Day, Theresa Racine of Xtrememeasure, the Rockaway YMCA and other community partners gave Barbies and Kens of all ages from around the peninsula an afternoon to remember celebrating America’s most iconic doll.

The Rockaway YMCA was bustling with Barbie activity as guests, many decked out in their best Barbie or Ken looks, got to make seashell art, bedazzle their own sunglasses, paint, take photos at photo booths, dance to the tunes of DJ Rhythm Selector J, enjoy tea and goodies at a tea party, and got to take home Barbies. A select few who dressed up won some special prizes like a guitar, Barbie kits, tea kettles, remote control cars and more. Plus, a lucky raffle winner took home a vanity set.

Racine spearheaded the effort to make a local National Barbie Day celebration happen after attending Barbie themed events around the city over the past few years. But she couldn’t have done it without community partnerships and support. After the event, she thanked the Rockaway YMCA for hosting, community members and organizations who donated Barbies for giveaways and made other donations including Jeanine Latimer Henderson, Visol Smith, Saint Rose of Lima Church, Katie McFadden, Alaina and Jon, Lisa G, Ocean Bay Community Development Corporation, Moises Reyes, Tyquan and Naquon for handing out flyers, and to artist Mike, Ivonne Colon, Evelyn Rodriguez, and Evy Calderon Natty for helping volunteer at event, among others.

In addition to all of the activities, those who participated enjoyed how it brought everyone together to reminisce and create new memories. “The amazing part of the Barbie extravaganza was seeing the adults and children come out and sit together to fulfill the wonder from childhood. Free of pain and violence. It embarked on the innocence and diversity that continues to keep us connected no matter where we come from,” Shamika Simmons said.

Racine says more than 60 people enjoyed the event. “Thank you, most of all, my community that I live in and cherish so much for showing up, and those who shared, donated and made this event exactly how I envisioned it to be. Everyone was dressed like a Barbie and came together and just had a blast,” Racine said. “See you next year.”