What to Expect at the Puerto Rican Day Parade in NYC This Sunday

Shutterstock/Steve Edreff

By Crystal Harlan

June 7, 2023

The 66th edition of the National Puerto Rican Day Parade is dedicated to Aguadilla and will be led by Giselle Blondet as grand marshal.

It’s that time of the year again! Regardless of where you live, all eyes will be on New York City’s Fifth Ave this Sunday, June 11, for the 66th annual National Puerto Rican Day Parade (NPRDP), starting at 11 a.m.

This year’s theme is Música, Cultura y Alegría, and is dedicated to the municipality of Aguadilla. Aligned with the recognition of Aguadilla, is a posthumous tribute to legendary Puerto Rican composer and musician Rafael Hernández Marín, who was born in Aguadilla to Afro Puerto Rican parents in 1891. And keeping the tradition of honoring patria extendida community, this year the NPRDP will honor the Puerto Rican community of Los Angeles.

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This Year’s Honorees:

Grand Marshal: Giselle Blondet, television personality, actor and author.

Queen: Justina Machado, television and film actor

Madrina: Judy Torres, singer, radio personality and certified life coach

Padrino: Ismael Cruz Córdova, television and film actor

Orgullo Puertorriqueño: Madison Anderson Berríos, model and beauty pageant titleholder

Lifetime Achievement: Chucho Avellanet, singer, comedian, actor, and television personality

Lifetime Achievement: Josie de Guzmán, Tony-nominated musical theater actor and singer

Lifetime Achievement: María Teresa “Tere” Marichal, actor, writer, ventriloquist, playwright, and TV personality

Lifetime Achievement: Jacobo Morales, filmmaker

Lifetime Achievement: Antonio Martorell, painter, graphic artist, and writer

Lifetime Achievement: Angel “Cucco” Peña, composer, arranger, conductor, music director and trumpeter

Lifetime Achievement: Silverio Pérez, musician, comedian, motivational speaker, and TV personality

Hijo de Borinquen: Wilson Nazario, publicist and longtime NRPDP representative in Puerto Rico

Ambassador: Nilda María Comas, sculptor

Ambassador: Luis Carle, artist-photographer

Ambassador: Violeta Galagarza, choreographer and dance company founder

Ambassador: Louis Molina, commissioner, NYC Department of Correction

Ambassador: Luis Salgado, Broadway performer, director, choreographer, and producer

Ambassador: Dr. Ariel Orama, filmmaker, actor, and clinical psychologist

Ambassador: Ana Teresa Toro, journalist and novelist

Ambassador: Dr. Antonio Mignucci, biological oceanographer and veterinary technician

Athlete of the Year: Alelí Medina, surfer

Trailblazer: Omi Hopper, chef and social media influencer

Trailblazer: Ivelissa Ríos, chef, life coach and social media influencer

Trailblazer: Rebeca Nieves Huffman, career coach and social media influencer

Posthumous Honorees:

Rafael Hernández, composer and musician

Marisol Malaret, Puerto Rico’s first Miss Universe winner, television host

Antonia Pantoja, PhD, educator, social worker, organizer, prolific author, and activist

Tito Puente, percussionist, composer, and bandleader

Tito Rodríguez, singer and bandleader

Where to Watch the Parade

If you can’t be among the 1 million people expected to line the 35-block-long procession up Fifth Ave. to watch the parade, you can watch it on WABC Channel 7 in New York at noon, streamed on the station’s website, abc7NY.com, and on the station’s free news and connected TV apps on Amazon FireTV, Android TV, Apple TV, and Roku. For more information about the Parade and a full calendar of events, visit www.nprdpinc.org.

Author

Crystal Harlan

Crystal is a bilingual editor and writer with over 20 years of experience in digital and print media. She is currently based in Florida, but has lived in small towns in the Midwest, Caracas, New York City, and Madrid, where she earned her MA in Spanish literature.

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