Crown Heights residents commemorated the 25th anniversary of one of the ugliest periods in city history on Sunday with balloon animals, face-painting and a jazz band.

The anniversary of the Brooklyn neighborhood’s deadly racial riots began with speeches near Brower Park, where the father of 7-year-old Gavin Cato lit a candle to remember his son.

Gavin Cato was accidentally struck and killed by an Orthodox Jewish motorcade 25 years ago, igniting simmering tensions between blacks and Jewish people in the area. In the ensuing riots, Yeshiva student Yankel Rosenbaum was targeted and murdered.

Gavin’s dad said the festival was “great.”

“The Jews and the blacks can live together peacefully,” he said near the park.”I appreciate all the good things all the people are doing. It’s a great thing. I love it.”

The relatives of Yankel Rosenbaum did not attend.

His brother, Norman Rosenbaum, has said the party was “an insult to the memory of Yankel Rosenbaum.”

Event organizer Devorah Halberstam said the event is meant to show positive change in the community.

”There will always be comments. I respect diverse opinions,” Halberstam said Sunday.

“We are going to have a very respectful day, a very honorable day, and we don’t have regrets on that.”