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Date: 9/10/2019
SPRINGFIELD – The annual Puerto Rican Parade will soon return to the streets of Springfield.
The annual parade began around 1989, according to the Chair of the Parade, Victoria Ann Rodriguez, in the North End of Springfield. The event initially began as a celebration of Puerto Rican heritage, and eventually turned into a bigger parade that continued the tradition and celebration of heritage Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez told Reminder Publishing when the parade began it was run by the Puerto Rican Cultural Center, but it was “transferred over to a group of young professionals,” who she said, “love it.”
The theme for this year’s parade is ¡Estamos Unidos!, which in English, means We Are United. The theme, Rodriguez said, was chosen before the political controversy in Puerto Rico began, but said the committee ended up thinking “Wow, this [theme] is perfect.”
The parade will take place on Sept. 15 at 11 a.m. and will feature a variety of different artists, Fire Department, Police Department, Springfield Public Schools, Springfield Museums, the Thunderbirds, and the UMass Marching Band.
The marching band, Rodriguez said, has participated in the parade in the past, but has not marched for several years. As in previous years, this year’s parade honorees will be marching with their own group.
People wanting to watch the parade can do so by lining the sidewalks of Main Street, Watson Avenue, or Boylston Way. People can also watch the parade and join the celebration at 1150 Main Street on the corner of Washington Street where a stage area will be set up at the end of the parade route.
Rodriguez said while people wait for the parade to make its way to the end of the route there will be performances and entertainment.
After the success and excitement of last year’s parade, Rodriguez said she expects a large crowd to come out and celebrate the parade.
“Tons of people come out, last year was the biggest parade to date. It was coming off of a high,” she said. “Springfield and Holyoke were nominated to go to the national parade in New York. People are just happy.”