The Bronx Puerto Rican Day Parade will hold a gala to celebrate its 40th anniversary on Wednesday, May 27, with the parade scheduled for Saturday, May 30.
This year’s parade theme is “Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future.” In keeping with this theme, the Bronx Puerto Rican Day Parade will showcase a brief history of how it has impacted the borough since its establishment in 1986. The 40th celebration will also act as a tribute to the leaders who defended the parade with their lives.
The gala is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. at Villa Barone Manor, located at 737 Throggs Neck Expwy.
Some of the individuals and organizations that will be honored there include Omi Hopper, State Senator Luis Sepulveda, NWA Wrestler Tiffany Nieves, Children’s Aid College Prep Charter School, the Neighborhood Association for Inter-Cultural Affairs (NAICA) and Goya, which will be a Grand Marshall at the parade.
The gala will feature an in memoriam dedication to former Chairperson Francisco Gonzalez and former President Ruben Rios.
“We stand on the shoulders of giants,” Bronx Puerto Rican Day Parade President Maribel Mercado said.
“This 40th anniversary is a promise kept to our founders and a torch passed to our youth. We are not just marching; we are defending the heritage that Francisco Gonzalez and Ruben Rios loved with all their hearts.”
The 40th Bronx Puerto Rican Day Parade will start at 11 a.m. and run along the Grand Concourse, beginning at 164th Street and ending at Mount Eden.
Attendees can look forward to seeing vibrant floats, marching bands and cultural groups. The parade will conclude with a celebration of the next generation of leaders, who are expected to carry the culture forward for the next 40 years.
Those interested in learning more about the gala and parade, buying tickets for the gala or registering to participate in the parade can visit the Bronx Puerto Rican Day Parade’s Instagram page or email infobxprparade@gmail.com.
