Patrick Fergus
@Fergus5Fergus
Thousands of parade watchers brandished Puerto Rican flags in downtown Springfield for the 34th annual Puerto Rican parade, which is regularly the largest parade the city holds every year.
“I’ve been coming since I was born, it’s my culture,” said Jose Ramos, a Springfield resident. “We come together as a community…and we dance, eat and talk about our past.”
This year’s theme focused on Puerto Rican magic, with over 4,000 marchers participating in the parade, according to MassLive.com. The contingents featured school bands and clubs, local law enforcement, city government leaders and prominent community organizations.
Although Springfield’s Puerto Rican celebration has been a longstanding tradition, it’s not exclusive to the city. Numerous celebrations across the Northeast and similar parades and festivities were held in cities like Waterbury, Conn. and Hartford, Conn. on Sunday.
The route spanned just under two miles, kicking off from the city’s north end and finishing around Tower Square on Main St.
For so many local Puerto Ricans and Latin Americans, the parade is a chance to celebrate their culture and unapologetically bring pride to their community.
Alex Torres, a Puerto Rican man born in Springfield, attends the parade annually and sees first-hand the impact of these kinds of events.
“It’s so important to remember who we are, and where we come from,” Torres said. “It’s about what makes us different, and Puerto Ricans, in general, love music and dance, and these types of celebrations show that.”
Cars with flags draped on their hoods, large floats with Puerto Rican artwork and dancers dressed in traditional clothing and headwear were just a few of the wide variety of vibrant styles on display. Local school bands comprised a good portion of the musical heritage as they accompanied the dancing acts.
All along the route, food trucks provided onlookers with familiar dishes like Empanadillas, and some tents were set up to sell Latin American-inspired crafts.
Amy Alvarado attended the parade with a group of her friends and said it’s the perfect opportunity to show the progress made for her people.
“These types of things are showing that we can support our people,” Alvarado said. “I’m proud to be Puerto Rican, and I’d never want to be anything else.”
Above all, it’s a day for fun, and the vibrant atmosphere from start to finish seemed to have accomplished just that.
“My favorite part is the people,” Ramos said. “You come here and you can tell everybody’s smiling, dancing, showing off their flags and just letting loose.”
Springfield College was also represented, as staff members from the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion walked the route, as a part of the ongoing celebration of LatinX Heritage Month.
“We brought students to the parade, because we wanted them to experience the vibrant atmosphere of music, positivity and energy,” said Arlene Ramos-Ortiz, the Program Coordinator for the DEI Office. “Seeing students sharing candy with children and families was heartwarming, creating joyful moments.”
Ramos-Ortiz and the rest of the office hope to bring these types of events onto the campus in the coming year.
“This initiative is crucial because it offers a platform to educate, celebrate and honor our diverse cultures….uniting as a community truly makes a difference.
In its 34th year, the Puerto Rican Parade continues to be a smashing success at magnifying and honoring the importance of Puerto Rican and Latin American culture in Springfield.
Photo taken by Patrick Fergus/TheStudent