New York Gears Up for Puerto Rican Day Parade

On Sunday, June 12, the National Puerto Rican Day Parade will wind its way up Fifth Avenue in Manhattan with floats, music and dancing. The event this year is dedicated to celebrating the natural beauty of the island.

Now in its 54th year, the parade’s significance has changed as demographics have shifted. More Puerto Ricans live in the continental U.S. than on the island itself, but in many ways their presence and plight have diminished as greater numbers of Dominicans, Mexicans, Salvadorans, and others have immigrated to the country.

This week and weekend, Puerto Ricans and non-Boricuas alike can be reminded of the islanders’ rich culture and contributions to New York. Events start tonight, with a poetry reading at 6 p.m. the Nuyorican Poets Café in the East Village, and continue through Saturday with music and dance, talks, and an outdoor street festival in the El Barrio neighborhood. For details about these and other events, click here.