HARTFORD, Conn. — The Greater Hartford Puerto Rican Parade is set to occur this Sunday, Sept. 22, at 1 p.m., as the Capital City comes alive to the sound of maracas and the smell of mofongo.
The 1.5-mile parade will begin at 990 Park St. and continue along Park Street until it reaches the Main Street intersection. It will keep going on Main Street until it comes to its end at 750 Main St.
Check-in will occur from 9 a.m. to noon at 112 Pope Park Highway in the city. Organizers said there will be “no parking” enforcement on the parade route, and towing will be conducted if necessary.
The day will feature a celebration of pride, culture and community.
"We are honoring the past and celebrating the future," said parade board member Amilcar Hernandez.
The Festival del Coqui will also be taking place in nearby Bushnell Park from 2:30-9 p.m. on Sunday. According to organizers, this will result in increased pedestrian and vehicle traffic near Bushnell Park during the afternoon and evening. Motorists in the area may experience delays and are encouraged to seek alternative routes.
The Harford Puerto Rican Parade includes close to 3,000 marching participants. Organizers describe it as the largest parade in the City of Hartford and the Hartford region.
Participants will include honorees and delegates, local school groups, school bands, cultural groups from numerous countries showing off their pride, Hartford police officers, Hartford firefighters, the Connecticut National Guard, music groups, entertainers, faith groups, Paso Fino horses, clowns, media groups, sponsors and elected officials, organizers said.
This year marks the 60th anniversary of Hartford's first official Puerto Rican Day Parade. Back in 1964, it was the only Puerto Rican parade in Connecticut, conceived amid the strife of the civil rights movement.
“My parents were very much like, 'Follow the American culture.' We only did Puerto Rican stuff at home because they were afraid of how people were going to treat us,” said Aura Alvarado, the godmother of the parade.
Alvarado recalled the days she hid her culture, which is something she now celebrates and wears as a badge of pride.
“We have to be inclusive and let people come and see our culture,” said Alvarado.
Speaking of badges, Marisol Rodriguez-Velez wears one every day as a Hartford police lieutenant.
“We are prideful people. We love to have a good time. We are all about community and helping each other,” said Rodriguez-Velez.
Few know the Puerto Rican community like she does. It’s why she’s the Grand Marshall.
“It’s a reflection. A mirror image of who they are, and it builds relationships and partnerships, and they feel more at ease, especially when I am out at community events and I’m able to speak the same language," Rodriguez-Velez said.
Sunday's parade is expected to draw people of all cultures.
“You are going to feel the vibrancy that the Puerto Rican community brings to the city, and you’ll then understand why the Puerto Rican community is so loud and so proud of their flag,” said Hernandez.
In addition, this year in honor of the 60th anniversary, a special guest will be showing up. The president of that first Puerto Rican Day Parade in 1964, Mr. Jose Cruz Vasquez, now in his 90’s, will be on hand. The weather is forecasted to be just about perfect.
Earlier this year, the Connecticut Institute for Community Development Puerto Rican Parade, Inc. Hartford Chapter, a nonprofit that organizes the parade, said it was proud to announce that the parade and Festival del Coqui are occurring on the same day. After following Hartford’s main streets, the parade will culminate at Bushnell Park where the Festival del Coqui is occurring.
Organizers said an average of 5,000 to 10,000 people attend the parade each year but some expect as many as 15,000 to be present in Hartford for Sunday's festivities.
----
Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
----
Do you have a story idea or something on your mind you want to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at newstips@fox61.com.
----
HERE ARE MORE WAYS TO GET FOX61 NEWS
Download the FOX61 News APP
iTunes: Click here to download
Google Play: Click here to download
Stream Live on ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching FOX61.
Steam Live on FIRE TV: Search ‘FOX61’ and click ‘Get’ to download.