ORLANDO, Fla. — Thousands packed downtown Orlando Saturday morning for the annual Puerto Rican Parade and Festival.
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The theme of this year’s parade was “Economic Growth and Business Opportunities” in Florida and on the island.
Island pride was palpable, from the bongo-playing to the bomba dancing. Hundreds lined the streets, dressed in red, white and blue for the parade and festival.
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Even the youngest participants were moving to the beat.
“This is our culture,” one visitor said. “We like to help people. We want to keep the culture alive.”
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The event also celebrated the town of Loiza, a community about an hour east of San Juan along the coast.
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“This is an honor for our town and many people from Loiza come here with me,” said Julia Nazario, the mayor of Loiza.
Loiza is a place of tradition with rich culture and strong African roots.
In the crowd, people had ties to different parts of the island, and they found themselves in Orlando for one reason - united in proudly waving the Bandera de Puerto Rico.
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