Hundreds flock to NYC’s famed Puerto Rican Day Parade: ‘It is stunning’
The Puerto Rican Day Parade drew large crowds to Manhattan on Sunday, with revelers placing their pleasure on boisterous show in what organizers referred to as the biggest cultural competition within the nation.
Bomba music blasted alongside the Fifth Avenue parade route all through the day because the solar beat down and all people in sight was all smiles in a sea of purple, white and blue clothes.
“All people’s having a great time. After we characterize Puerto Rico, we characterize their coronary heart,” mentioned Chris Santiago, 23, of The Bronx, who has been to the occasion yearly since he was a baby.
“I’m celebrating the best way Puerto Ricans are celebrating: having a great time, ingesting an excessive amount of alcohol and simply having enjoyable and representing Puerto Rico,” he mentioned. “All people is aware of in the event you’re Puerto Rican, you already know the way we get down.”
Santiago wasn’t flawed. The get together was pumping from Midtown via the Higher East Aspect with attendees together with Puerto Rican tremendous rapper Unhealthy Bunny.
Dancing pervaded among the many younger and outdated in what 30-year-old Future Napoleoni referred to as “stunning.
“You see all people out right here. We’re representing ourselves, our historical past, all of that. However that is us,” she mentioned. “We get to take a seat right here and characterize ourselves, love ourselves regardless it doesn’t matter what race. However at the moment it’s all of us out right here, all one, collectively, united.”
Sunday’s parade was the 68th annual occasion.
It wasn’t clear how many individuals turned out for this yr’s parade, however organizers had predicted greater than 1 million attendees and members.
Amongst them was 35-year-old Lisa Santiago, a Decrease East Aspect native who beforehand attended the parade together with her father yearly. She celebrated Sunday for the primary time with out him after he lately handed away.
“We might simply sort of have a good time right here, take heed to the music, dance, go the rum, the Bacardi,” mentioned Santiago, who was carrying a baseball jersey and gold Yankees pendant that belonged to her dad — saying she felt like his spirit was dancing alongside her.
She mentioned she had blended feelings however believes that her dad was together with her in spirit.
“It’s loads. To be sincere, a bit of little bit of disappointment with a lot pleasure. He’s [here]. He positively is. Consider me, he’s. Each single time I wave the flag,” she mentioned.
