ALLENTOWN, PA -Cancelling this year’s Puerto Rican Parade was a no-brainer.
"It was tough but not too tough because under the circumstances, we had to take care of our people," explains Puertorrican Culture and Peservation Inc. President, Flor Velez, "We are very worried about the pandemic and we are--based on our values and principles, we can’t expose our people to the pandemic."
Coronavirus crowd concerns and new restrictions led to the cancellation of the festival planned for July 26th that typically draws thousands to Allentown each summer.
"The parade consists of about 500 walking participants, plus all the vehicles and floats that participate as well," explains Puertorrican Culture and Preservation Inc. Vice President, Jessica Rodriguez-Colon, "So if anyone is looking to learn more about Puerto Rico, the music, the food, about how we gather together in a family fun environment, our festival and parade is definitely that place to be."
The Puertorrican Culture Preservation Inc, who organizes the parade says, the event isn't just for the more than 60 thousand Puerto Ricans living in the Easton, Allentown, Bethlehem area or the over 5 thousand who have since settled in the Lehigh Valley following Hurricane Maria in 2017...
"It’s very important that people that don’t know about our culture, in that moment, we have the opportunity to teach them, to show them how vibrant our culture is," says Velez.
But the organization says it will host its annual ‘Back to School’ event where they donate supplies, food and hygiene products to families before children head back to class. But this time with social distancing in mind…
"We have mapped it out to be very very safe. We’re going to have folks coming in one way, exiting another way. Everyone will be asked to stay in their car," Rodriguez-Colon explains, "They are just going to pop their trunks and we’re going to load them up with school supplies, we will be giving away non perishable items. We know that there’s been a strain, a financial strain on families during this COVID pandemic and we know folks have lost their jobs, so we will have resources out that day to provide some assistance to families."
That drive through is being held on August 8th and organizers say they’ll be back for the 10th annual Puerto Rican Parade and Festival in 2021.
