The seventh annual Newburgh Illuminated festival highlighted the best of the city - food, dance, music, culture and its community. 

The celebration on Broadway and Liberty street featured more than 170 vendors - including a variety of food offerings. 

For some it was a way to see newburgh for the first time, while others came out to celebrate the city they call home. And, many former newburgh residents used the festival as a reason to come back home. 

"It's like a big family reunion right now this is awesome," says Louis Torres, a Newburgh native who lives in North Carolina and travels the east coast with his mobile italian ice business. "Who would have thought 10 years ago on the corner of liberty and broadway we would have a beautiful festival like this. Newburgh is gorgeous."

The day-long event also honored businesswoman and community leader Melanie Collins with the first Newburgh Illuminated Mayor Judy Kennedy Citizens Award. The award was named for the late mayor who spearheaded the creation of the festival.