The espiritu of the Puerto Rican Parade lives on! Even though there won’t be a flotilla of marchers or thousands of flags along New York City’s 5th Avenue this year, a celebration of Puerto Rican culture will fill peoples homes on June 14, 2020 at 12pm thanks to a virtual Puerto Rican Day celebration.
The National Puerto Rican Day Parade Committee (NPRDP) announced that the 2020 celebration will go directly to viewers at home. The official festivities are cancelled by the city out of concern for the spread of the novel coronavirus. “It’s not a happy announcement, but it’s one we have to make,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said during a press briefing in April.
This is the 63rd year the event will take place. However, it is the first time it will be a televised program instead of a live event. The event celebrates community, culture and the people keeping its reputation as the country’s largest celebration of Puerto Rican culture. It will air on WABC-TV as a 90-minute program. Network anchors Joe Torres and David Novarro will host along with The View’s co-host Sunny Hostin.
“The Parade is more than a celebration of pride and culture. It’s a platform for preserving our heritage while advancing our community by informing on important issues and promoting educational achievement,” said Louis Maldonado, board chair for the NPRDP Board of Directors.
“Given the profound impact COVID-19 has had on New York and communities across the nation, and with Puerto Rico still grappling with incessant earthquakes and its own COVID19-related pause, the Parade Board agrees it’s critically important to continue the Parade’s legacy while celebrating our resilience.”
This year the emphasis will be on scholarship and achievement. It will highlight winners of the NPRDP 2020 scholarships and raise funds for next year’s program. One hundred high school seniors and college students of Puerto Rican descent received $200,000 in awards over the past four years.
The television event will include Luis A. Miranda, Founding President of The Hispanic Federation. As well as his son actor and musical giant, Lin-Manuel Miranda, along with many other Puerto Rican celebrities and icons.