National Puerto Rican Day Parade 2014: When And Where To Watch Colorful NYC Event This Year

The National Puerto Rican Day Parade (NPRDP) takes place annually along Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, on Sunday June 8th from 11AM to 5PM. The parade is held in honor of the nearly 4 million inhabitants of Puerto Rico and over 4 million people of Puerto Rican birth or heritage residing in the United States. The parade marches along Fifth Avenue from 44th Street to 79th Street. According to organizers, "the parade is a cultural icon and a part of the cultural fabric of New York City."

The event organizers reveal that "Originally, the Desfile Puertorriqueño, Inc., was born of the imperative necessity of translating Puerto Rican achievements into a visible demonstration of the strength of the Puerto Rican community, in order to organize and support our Latino counterparts. The first parade was held on Sunday, April 13, 1958, in Spanish Harlem “El Barrio”; subsequently, the organization found its new home along Fifth Avenue in New York City."

If you're planning on taking part in the parade, remember to be respectful of Puerto Rico and its values: the parade organizers emphasize "All participants must reflect a respect for general public decency and moral values." This also applies to the flag: "the use of the Puerto Rican flag must be done in the most respectable and dignified manner. The parade does not allow Puerto Rican flags with symbols like coquis, dominoes, congas etc. It is considered a desecration of our national flag."