From Thursday, July 31 to Saturday, August 2, sounds of reggaetón, cultural dances and a wave of red, white and blue will cover Parcel 5 as Rochesterians gather to celebrate the 55th annual Puerto Rican Festival.
The festival is a celebration of Latino culture shared by Americans whose heritage traces to the American territory located in the Caribbean Sea. The festival’s website states the event’s mission is to educate and empower while maintaining Puerto Rican culture across generations and geography.
Greater Rochester’s Latino population, made up mostly of Puerto Ricans, has soared this century. Events in Puerto Rico including 2017’s Hurricane Maria guided many people from Puerto Rico to Rochester, which has one of the highest proportions of Puerto Rican residents of any city in the United States.
“My ultimate favorite memory is something that happens at the end of the festival weekend every year,” said Leslie Rivera, vice president of the Puerto Rican Festival. “It’s become almost tradition. Some of us board members stand at the exit and thank the patrons for attending.
“[We] wish them well and a safe journey to their homes. People engage with us and thank us for an amazing weekend and tell us they’ll be back next year. That moment is a reminder of why we do this for our community. It makes it all worth it.”
Rochester Puerto Rican Festival schedule
A group discussion with a panel discussion, Bridge the Gap, featuring Dean Huertas kicks off the festival at 3 p.m. Thursday. The discussion will be about the Puerto Rican Diaspora. Following the discussion, the doors to Parcel 5 will open at 5 p.m. for people who didn’t attend the discussion.
At 11 a.m. Saturday, the Puerto Rican Parade begins the day’s festivities at the corner of East Avenue and Alexander Street. The parade route will end at Parcel 5, where the festival will be.
“The Puerto Rican Festival holds a special place in my heart, filled with countless meaningful moments. For me, it feels like a giant family reunion — an opportunity to reconnect with friends and loved ones,” said Yesenia Ramos-Torres, treasurer for the festival. “What I treasure most is the warm, family-centered atmosphere, sharing with my children over the years.”
Puerto Rican Festival tickets
The festival is free to attend on Thursday and from 12 to 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Advance tickets are $15 and go up to $25 if you miss the advance ticket sales. VIP tickets are available for purchase as well.
To purchase tickets, visit https://tickets.eventhub.net/e/puerto-rican-festival-2/tickets.
Headliner performances
Puerto Rican Festival details
For more information, visit https://pr-festival.com/parade/#general-info.
— As a Rochester native, Justice Marbury entered the world of journalism to create work where voices like hers were heard—the voices of minority communities. Marbury covers small businesses, neighborhood concerns, and the interesting people who live in Rochester neighborhoods. As the 19th Ward reporter, she has helped implement community outreach ideas by asking what people in various communities want to read about themselves in addition to regular news. Contact her on Instagram @justice_marbury and by email at jmarbury@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: 55th annual Rochester Puerto Rican Festival kicks off July 31: What to know
Reporting by Justice Marbury, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
