3 days ago
What to know about National Puerto Rican Day Festival in Milwaukee
National Puerto Rican Day Festival, an event celebrated in cities across the United States this Sunday, will feature a parade, artists and musical performances in Milwaukee.
Here's what to know about the National Puerto Rican Festival.
The annual National Puerto Rican Day Festival is hosted by El Conquistador Latino Newspaper with Noticias Wisconsin from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday near the Mitchell Park Domes. The event is free to all attendees.
This is separate from the annual Puerto Rican Festival of Wisconsin on Sept. 21.
According to Jose Rodriguez, the event director for El Conquistador Newspaper, this year's National Puerto Rican Festival will also have a parade for the first time in 30 years. The parade starts at 11 a.m. at the corner of South 16th and West Pierce Streets and will head to Mitchell Park, according to Telemundo Wisconsin.
Rodriguez said this festival is celebrating its third year, and the last parade celebrating Puerto Rican culture was about 30 years ago.
Rodriguez said the return of the parade would bring the community a sense of pride and memories for those who remember festival parades in their childhood.
National Puerto Rican Festival and Parade started in New York in celebration of the growing Puerto Rican population in the state. The first parade was held on Sunday, April 13, 1958, in New York City and then spread to other cities including Boston, Philadelphia, and Milwaukee.
According to Rodriguez, the day is important because it celebrates Puerto Rican culture for the community and a way to revitalize an old tradition.
Milwaukee has a long history with Puerto Rican people. Puerto Ricans started moving into Wisconsin after World War II, according to the Wisconsin Historical Society. By the 1950s, the Puerto Rican population in Wisconsin stood at more than 2,500 people. That population rose to about 69,000 by 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
After the parade, people will be able to see artists and hear from speakers from Telemundo Wisconsin. The day will feature Puerto Rican artists and performers. People can also participate in the salsa dance competition, hot dog eating contest, a domino tournament and a pincho cook-off.
Noon: Opening Ceremony
1 p.m. Ray Y Su Orquesta, a local artist
1:30 p.m. Bembé Drum & Dance, a community-based group that teaches Afro-Latino music and dance to young people.
2 p.m. Septeto Charambó, a Milwaukee-based salsa band.
3 p.m. Orquesta Rumba, a Milwaukee-based band that plays Latin jazz, salsa and cumbia
4 p.m. Freddy B It Ain't Me, a Milwaukee musical artist
4:30 p.m. Salsabrositas, a Milwaukee-based dance group.
Más Tempo, a Milwaukee musician.
6 p.m. Orquesta Ayala, a Milwaukee-based salsa group
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee celebrates National Puerto Rican Festival this Sunday
