Sunset Park's Puerto Rican Parade: What You Need To Know

SUNSET PARK, BROOKLYN — Thousands of people will flock to Sunset Park's Fifth Avenue this weekend for the neighborhood's annual Puerto Rican Parade, which kicks off Sunday evening.

The parade, which has been marching down Sunset Park's "Quinta Avenida" for more than two decades, is in its fifth year being led by local nonprofit El Grito. The organization's theme for this year's parade will be education and unity to highlight the group's mission to educate the community about social justice and bring together all Puerto Ricans, both those in the home country and in New York City.

The neighborhood parade, starting at 5 p.m., will follow the citywide Puerto Rican parade in midtown, which will run through midtown earlier Sunday morning.

As it did last year, the Sunset Park parade and festival will also feature a vigil for the victims of Hurricane Maria.

“Celebrating our culture is important for our healing," Dennis Flores El Grito co-founder said. "We invite our Sunset Park community to join us in honoring the lives of those who died in the wake of the storm, and those who stepped up to help Puerto Rico.”

Here is everything you need to know about Sunset Park's celebration:

WHAT:

• Musical guests for this year's parade are "Los Pleneros de la 21" and "The Toca All-Stars Salsa Orchestra"
• Traditional Boricua carnival processions
• Local artists and businesses
• Stage concerts with salsa, bomba y plena, hip hop and spoken word
• A candlelight vigil will be held for the victims of Hurricane Maria for the second year in a row

WHERE:

• The parade starts at 59th Street and Fifth Avenue in Brooklyn
• The procession will be followed by a festival near the entrance to the park at 43rd Street and Fifth Avenue

WHEN:

• The parade kicks off at 5 p.m.
• The festival starts at 6 p.m.
• The vigil starts at 8 p.m.

WHY:

• El Grito has said that the "powerful program for more than 8,000 spectators from all walks of life" is meant to create an authentic celebration of Puerto Rican and communal pride while preserving the Puerto Rican culture and tradition. The group hopes to raise $5,000 at the event to sustain the parade and continue its organizations mission of filling the void of services provided in the community. El Grito's past work includes sending hundreds of NYC volunteers to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria.