ALLENTOWN, Pa. —The vibrant sounds, colors and flavors of Puerto Rico will take over the city as the Puerto Rican parade and festival returns to Center City.
Held by the Puertorrican Culture Preservation, the annual celebration of heritage and pride will take place on Sunday, Aug. 3.
The Isla del Encanto celebration will begin with a flag-raising ceremony at Allentown City Hall at 11 a.m., marking the official start of the festivities.
A performance of "La Borinqueña," the island's national anthem, will accompany the izado de bandera, or flag-raising ceremony.
The parade will kick off at noon at North Fifth and Hamilton streets, and travel east down Hamilton toward River Front Drive before turning at Front and Tilghman streets, then crossing the Tilghman Street Bridge, where it will end.
Along with the line of jeeps and motorcycles, the Allentown Puerto Rican Parade will showcase an array of decorated floats designed by local artists and business owners.
The floats reflect the unique identities of Puerto Rico’s municipalities, and prizes will be awarded for the best-decorated float, making the event both competitive and community-driven.
Grand marshal, festival queens
The 2025 parade grand marshal is Jorge Romero, managing director of the Valley Preferred Cycling Center in Trexlertown.
Romero will be recognized for his contributions to Puerto Rican culture in the Lehigh Valley.
This year's Reinas de la Feria Artesanal de Patillas, or youth festival queens, are Emareliz Marie Martinez Robles and Sonielis Marie Montañez Flores.
The teens hail from Patillas — a southeastern Puerto Rican municipality 48 miles from San Juan — and a sister city of Bethlehem.
Several residents moved to the Lehigh Valley from Patillas in the 1940s and '50s to take jobs with Bethlehem Steel.
Oscarito, Christian Alicea
Following the parade, the Puerto Rican Festival will take place at Executive Education Academy Charter School, 555 Union Blvd., starting at 1 p.m.
The family event features Puerto Rican food and drinks, with live performances by students from Allentown School District.
Among the headliners will be Oscarito, frontman for Grupo Manía, who is expected to perform songs from his most recent album, "Lo Tengo Todo," released last summer.
Following his set, 2024 Latin Grammy nominee Christian Alicea will perform some of his biggest hits, including "Corbarde" and "Quiero Un Trago."
Admission to the festival is $5 for adults, $2 for ages 12 and younger.
Parking is $5 or $10 for VIP.
For more information on the festival, visit the Puertorrican Culture Preservation's website or Facebook page.
