In 1961, a group of Puerto Ricans – Rafael Rodriguez, Diego Berrios, Juan Benitez, Primitivo Valle, Rafael Bou and Santiago Bonilla – saw a need for cultural identification and organized the first Puerto Rican Day Parade in Jersey City.
What began as a small marching group and a caravan of cars has grown into what is considered to be the largest parade celebrating Puerto Rican culture in New Jersey.
The parade celebrates its 50th year on Sunday, Aug. 22 in Jersey City. Beginning at 1 p.m., thousands of spectators will come out to see the procession make its way from Lincoln Park on the city’s west side all the way to Grove Street in front of City Hall.
Accompanying the parade will be an a two-day festival Aug. 21 and 22 at Exchange Place near the Hudson River waterfront.
Accompanying the parade is an all-day festival on Aug. 21-22 at Exchange Place.
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Biggest yet
Armando Roman, president of the Puerto Rican Heritage Festival and Parade Committee, said this parade will be the biggest ever in the two terms he has served as president of the committee (1991-1995 and 2009-2010). He said among this year’s parade honorees will be U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez and Hudson County Freeholder Eliu Rivera, a native of Puerto Rico.
Roman also said the parade will include contingents from three Puerto Rico towns – Ai Bonito, Cayey and Salinas – with their own floats. For Roman, the Jersey City Fire Department director who grew up in downtown Jersey City, it is an opportunity to celebrate a tradition in which he’s participated most of his life.
“It is wonderful, as a Puerto Rican and a Jersey City resident, to see this parade continue and grow to what it is now,” Roman said.
One Montgomery Street resident who lives not far from Exchange Place with her husband and two children had mixed feelings about the parade and festival.
“I know a lot of parades and festivals happen during the summer right outside our building,” the resident said. “They look like fun, but the festivals can be noisy when they happen right where you live.”
Celebrating where we come from
A preview of the parade’s pomp and pageantry was offered when the contestants were announced for the Little Miss Puerto Rico Pageant, which will take place on Aug. 14.
The 14 girls competing in the pageant in three age groups came out to City Hall on July 30, along with friends and family, for the announcement. Before and afterwards, attendees reflected on the parade turning 50.
Wanda Rodriguez, who has lived in Jersey City for the past 15 years, is one of the coordinators of the pageant and has taken part in the parade since she moved here.
“This shows that we stay together as a community, that there’s still unity amongst Puerto Ricans,” said Rodriguez.
The parade is a year-round affair. Planning for next year’s parade will start a few weeks after the current parade ends. That includes electing a president and committee members to put together an extensive calendar of events leading up to the parade (see sidebar).
Linda Castro, whose 8-year-old daughter Chrissalina Colon will compete in the pageant, sees the parade’s continuing success as a lesson for the younger generation.
“Celebrating our Spanish heritage for this long will definitely show our youth how wonderful it is, and prepare them to continue this parade for the future,” Castro said.
Ricardo Kaulessar can be reached at rkaulessar@hudsonreporter.com.
Puerto Rican parade calendar
The following events will lead up to the 50th Annual Puerto Rican Parade and Festival:
8/14 – Little Miss, Junior Miss and Miss Puerto Rico Pageant. Middle School 7, 222 Laidlaw Ave., 5 p.m.
8/16 – Puerto Rican Flag Raising Ceremony, City Hall, 280 Grove St., 6 p.m.
8/18 – Flag Raising Ceremony, Brennan Courthouse, 583 Newark Ave., 6 p.m.
8/19 – Puerto Rican Traveling Theater performance and concert, Ferris High School, 35 Colgate St., 5 p.m.
8/20 – Gala Banquet at Casino in the Park, Lincoln Park, 7 p.m.