MAIN Holidays & Observances Puerto Rican Day Parade

Although the New York City Puerto Rican Day Parade has been canceled in recent years -- due to health concerns -- organizers say in 2022 the party will return to Fifth Avenue ... louder and bigger than ever!

Meanwhile, watch this space for updates as they are announced including the official time and date and special appearances as the 2022 Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York gets ready to roll ...

2021 Puerto Rican Day Parade rewind

While everyone had hoped for a real-time march up Fifth Avenuein 2021, due to continuing safety concerns the Puerto Rican Day Parade went totally virtual with a live television event instead.

On Sunday, June 13, 2021 beginning at noon the cast of "In the Heights" served as grand marshalls for the two-hour television special hosted by WABC-TV anchors Joe Torres and David Novarro.

Along with interviews with stars of "In the Heights", the show highlighted the colorful traditions and culture of Puerto Rico as well as a tribute to the founding of the capital, San Juan, celebrating its 500th anniversary this year.

The cast of "In the Heights" were featured at the 2021 virtual Puerto Rican Day Parade
in a two-hour live television event on local ABC Channel 7.

All about the Puerto Rican Day Parade

It's traditionally one of New York's most colorful and festive parades — as New Yoricans celebrate at the annual Puerto Rican Day Parade.

Traditionally, you can expect to see more than 80,000 people marching, and close to 3 million revelers lining the parade route for a major Puerto Rican love-fest.

Although celebrations of Puerto Rican heritage take place in cities across the U.S, (from Chicago to Buffalo and Boston!) New York's very own Puerto Rican Day Parade is one of the biggest.

The Puerto Rican Day Parade is, in fact, the city's largest parade and the second biggest public celebration after the Labor Day West Indian American Day Carnival in Brooklyn.

The first NYC Puerto Rican Day Parade was held in Spanish Harlem in Manhattan in 1958, and from its humble beginnings the parade grew to reflect not only a growing number of New Yorkers of Puerto Rican descent, but an increased pride in the culture and tradition of Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rican Day parade - best viewing

The parade marches along Fifth Avenue from 44th Street to 79th Street and includes delegates from various towns of Puerto Rico and U.S. states across the country.

Arrive early! The crowds to this annual street party are enormous as Puerto Ricans come out to celebrate their heritage -- along with New Yorkers of every stripe happily joining in the fun at Manhattan's most festive street party.

If arriving from Grand Central, simply make your way several blocks to Fifth Avenue to find a spot along "parade central" in the 40's to 50's block area.

Bring a bottle of water, snacks, and a small tote chair if you're going to be standing for several hours in one spot. Wear your Puerto Rican flag button or T-shirt with pride, wave at the parade marchers and performers ...and have fun!

For couch potatoes who prefer to stay home, the spectacle annually receives the highest local Nielsen ratings for stations in the New York area when it is traditionally televised on local channel FOX or ABC7.

The parade and related events can also be followed on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and YouTube.

also see -> Top 5 Puerto Rico Tourist Attractions | Puerto Rico Beaches

More about Puerto Rican Day parades & celebrations around the Web:

2022 National Puerto Rican Day Parade - Check out the official site for updates and news, related photos and video.

Puerto Rican Day Parade - Good overview from Wikipedia with a complete history of the New York parade, list of famous performers, information on this year's celebration, related resources & news stories.

Bronx Puerto Rican Day Parade - The official Facebook site with photos, news & updates on this year's parade.

Puerto Rican Day Parades & Events Nationwide