
Puerto Rican Day Parade 2021
September 25 @ 12:00 am - September 26 @ 12:00 am
Puerto Rican Day Parade 2020
A celebration of Latino culture in the heart of the city’s streets. Traditional Latino music, poetry, and dance make this vibrant festival a must-see event. Held on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the Puerto Rican Parade typically has around 1,500 marchers; more than 5,000 attendees; and 96,000 tune-in to watch live on 6ABC.
Will you join us this year? Concilio-Puerto Rican Parade Application-2019
Make a Theme Suggestion!
We want to hear from you!
Every year, Concilio picks a theme to bring to life during the cultural events series. Last year’s theme was “Renacer de Puerto Rico,” the “Rebirth of Puerto Rico” giving homage to the island and its people after Hurricane Irma and Maria. This year we would like to hear from you on what you think Concilio’s theme should be!

Past Parade Themes
Hover over the box
2018 – 2009
2018
The Rebirth of Puerto Rico
2017
The Rhythm of Our Culture
2016
The Power of Our Voice
2015
Our Journey: PR to Philly
2014
El Jibaro Puertorriqueño
2013
El Yunque
2012
La Mujer Puertorriqueña
2011
Our Latino Legacy
2010
Our Taino Heritage
2009
Vejigante a la Boya
Click to Expand
Past PR Parades
2007 El Cuatro, Alma y Orgullo de la Música Puertorriqueña
2006 Come Share with Me the Music of El Coqui
2005 Latino Youth: Our Promise, Our Future, Our Responsibility
2004 Latino Unity: Pride in our Diversity and Common Heritage
2003 A Growing Community--Enriching the Nation's Culture
2002 Latinos in the DE Valley--A Kaleidoscope of Cultures
2001 City of Brotherly Love, Celebrating Culture and History in Philadelphia
2000 A Journey into our Heritage
1999 Keeping our Heritage in the New Millenium
1998 Knowing Our Past--Embracing Our Future
1997 Celebrating the Heritage of Our Latin American Culture
1996 Towards a Better Future
1995 Saving our Generations
1994 An Educated Community is a Healthy Community
1993 500 Years of Hispanic Culture
1992 1492 - 1992: Celebrating the Spirit of 500 years of Hispanic Culture
1991 Hispanics United in World Peace
1990 Education: A Bridge to Success
1989 Hispanic Health Professionals
1988 Silver Anniversary: 25 years of Service to the Hispanic Community
1987 A Celebration of Two Constitutions
1986 Hispanic Contributions to the City of Brotherly Love
1985 Hispanic Arts
1984 Hispanic Channel of Communication
1983 20 Year Anniversary
1982 Desarrollando Nuestra Juventud (Developing our Youth)
1981 La Herencia Puertorriqueña
1980 Hispanics in the 80s
1979 International Year of the Child
1978 Al Trabajador
1977 La Borinqueña-nuestro himno oficial
1976 Historia y Cultura de Puerto Rico
1975 Maestro Puertorriqueño
1974 Desfile Puertorriqueña Filadelfia (missing information)
1973 Económico de la Comunidad Puertorriqueña
1972 The Veteran (10th Anniversary)
1971 El Castillo de San Felipe del Morro
1970 Los Santeros de Puerto Rico
1969 Pava de Puerto Rico
1968 Desfile Puertorriqueña Filadelfia
1967 Desfile Puertorriqueña Filadelfia
1966 Desfile Puertorriqueña Filadelfia
1965 Desfile Puertorriqueña Filadelfia
1964 Desfile Puertorriqueña Filadelfia
Joanna Otero-Cruz
2019 Grand Marshall for the Puerto Rican Parade

Joanna Otero-Cruz serves as Deputy Managing Director for the Community Services cabinet. Within this post, Mrs. Otero-Cruz leads and oversees’ operations for Philly 311, Office of Immigrant Affairs, Community Life Improvement Program (CLIP), Mural Arts, Animal Care & Control Team (ACCT Philly), Census Philly Counts, Special Projects, and the Municipal ID program.
Over the past three years, Mrs. Otero-Cruz has led some key initiatives including leading community engagement to dismantle major homelessness encampments, supported numerous policy efforts for our immigrant communities including citizenship initiatives, deportation defense, language access, immigrant workers rights, workforce development, cultural programs and community outreach. Mrs. Otero-Cruz led the planning, development, and implementation of the city’s Municipal ID “PHL ID” program in the spring of 2019. Focused on strengthening Community Services’ infrastructure and improving the customer experience. She is committed to facilitating and connecting residents with access and opportunity to services within the city to improve the quality of life for everyone.
Prior to coming to the City she served in key leadership roles for organizations that serve and meet the needs of Philadelphia’s most vulnerable.
Most recently, Mrs. Otero-Cruz led Pennsylvania’s oldest Latino non-profit organization, Concilio, since 2010, serving as community leader and voice for the needs of women, children, and families across the state. As the Executive Director of Concilio, she oversaw the organization’s foster care services, youth development programming, and children’s health work. She also led the organization and Latino community’s historic events – the Hispanic Fiesta and the Puerto Rican Week Festival culminating with the Latino Parade on Philadelphia’s Ben Franklin Parkway.
In 2014, she led the relocation of Concilio from its home of nearly 45 years to a brand-new 30,000 square-foot facility in the Hunting Park neighborhood. She is credited with bringing Concilio into a position of strong financial health, as well as building on the capacity and goodwill of the organization among the civic and public leaders of the city and state, and the community members that utilize its services.
Mrs. Otero-Cruz is an active and respected voice for equity and access at the city and state level.
She currently serves as Pennsylvania Commissioner for the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Latino Affairs, is a member of the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Women’s Way, and Visitation Church. She has also served on the CEIBA Coalition where she held various officer positions. Her leadership in the area of victim’s services earned Concilio the new appointment of East Division Victims Services’ provider by the City of Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office.
Mrs. Otero-Cruz is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Community Impact Award from the Hispanic Choice Awards, Philadelphia’s Business Journal 40 Under 40 Award, KYW Women’s Achievement Award, and Aetna Healthcare – Latina Leadership Award.
Mrs. Otero-Cruz holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Peirce College in Business Administration with a concentration in management. She is of Puerto Rican and Costa Rican decent, takes pride in being a wife and mother of two.