By Haguit Zahava
The lively tradition of the Puerto Rican Parade has been a source of joy and pride since its inception in 1969. This year, in its fifty-fourth anniversary, the celebration returns to Cleveland, Ohio on August 3rd and 4th, promising an enriching and fun-filled experience for the Latino community.
Organized at Quad Park on the main campus of Metro Health Hospital, this event is much more than a parade; it is an opportunity to educate, celebrate, and unite Latinos of all ages in a safe and family-friendly environment. The presence of music by local artists, an exquisite variety of food, family entertainment, unique crafts, and much more guarantees an unforgettable experience.
For several years, this festival has seen remarkable growth and improvement in terms of safety, thanks to the efforts supervised by Emmanuel Vélez, Sergeant of the Cleveland Police Division, who is also responsible for organizing the festival. The efforts made have brought significant changes, making the Puerto Rican Parade a stronger and more relevant festival each year.
This year, the “AIRE” committee has added more members, under the supervision of Joan Lorenzo “El Famoso,” who has organized the proper staging for several years. This committee handles the communication and ceremony of the festival, featuring prominent city communicators such as Yasin Cuevas, director of the Latina Image program; Jorge Ramos Pantoja, renowned journalist and community leader; José Colón, Senior Manager of Hispanic Latino Services at JumpStart Inc.; Luis Mayans, a successful Cleveland business owner; Zaria Ortiz, Miss Teen Puerto Rico 2022; and Haguit Zahava, host of the podcast “Conversan2 Cleveland” and editor of Vida Latina magazine. They will join other
participating committees to present a quality event.
On Sunday, August 4th, the parade will take place, promising to be the highlight of the event. To conclude on a high note, Moncho Rivera, the salsa singer and heir of the “Sonero Mayor,” will be present, performing his hits. At this unmissable festival, you can celebrate with your family and friends, not only the pride of being Puerto Rican but also of belonging to the Latino community.
