Sunset Park Celebrates Puerto Rican Pride with 9th Annual Parade

Staff

Sunset Park Celebrates Puerto Rican Pride with 9th Annual Parade
Dancers, car clubs, and families filled 5th Avenue in Sunset Park for the 9th Annual Puerto Rican Day Parade, hosted by El Grito and joined by community leaders and proud residents alike.

The 9th Annual Sunset Park Puerto Rican Day Parade lit up 5th Avenue on Sunday, June 8, with flags waving, music blasting, and a strong sense of pride pulsing through the streets.

Organized by El Grito de Sunset Park, the event drew hundreds of spectators and participants from the neighborhood and beyond.

Nelson Walter Canals Martínez and Aurora Flores-Hostos served as the parade’s padrino and madrina. Canals Martínez is a Puerto Rican scholar and activist known for his work defending political prisoners and advocating for Puerto Rican independence. Flores-Hostos is a pioneering music journalist and composer known for her work chronicling Latin music and culture in New York.

Starting at 59th Street and moving north along 5th Avenue, the parade featured car clubs, motorcycles, floats, and traditional dancers. The Sunset Park-based Brooklyn Auto Club rolled out in style, cheered on by spectators of all ages—from toddlers in strollers to elders waving flags from folding chairs.

Dancers from Los Pleneros de la 21 twirled in flowing white skirts. City Councilmember Alexa Avilés and Assemblymember Marcela Mitaynes were among the elected officials in attendance, greeting residents and celebrating the community's cultural legacy.

El Grito de Sunset Park, a social justice organization known for organizing protests, film screenings, and community events, launched the parade in 2015.

While this marks the 10th anniversary of the parade's inception, the event was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, making this the ninth time the parade has actually taken place.

"Everybody's trying to have fun. I party with them and get them to move along,” said Vanessa Torres, a lead organizer of the parade as she danced and directed participants when to proceed. “Now more than ever, with everything that's going on, we need to represent.”

The celebration was loud but peaceful, according to officers from the 72nd Precinct who monitored the parade, which kicked off at 6:30 p.m. Music poured out from storefronts, barbershops, and custom car stereos, infusing the neighborhood with energy and joy.

“This is my heritage,” said Javier, as he rolled down 5th Avenue in his customized car covered in puerto rican flags. “I'm here to celebrate our culture.”