Hundreds of people gathered in Rochester last month to celebrate Puerto Rican culture.
The 50th-annual Rochester Puerto Rican Festival took place Aug. 16-18 at Frontier Field’s VIP lot. The festivities kicked off Aug. 16 with an opening ceremony, live music and cultural dance from the Borinquen Dance Theatre. The festival featured a variety of events, such as a boxing match and daily musical entertainment. The celebration also featured such traditional Puerto Rican food as pinchos, or large skewers of meat and vegetables; yellow rice topped with a variety of meats; and fried empanadas with meat and cheese.
On Aug. 17, a rainstorm did not stop the 50th-annual Puerto Rican Parade as parade goers and participants filled the streets to kick off the second day of the festival. The parade began at the Liberty Pole in downtown Rochester and made its way to Frontier Field. The Antonetti family won first place for their float submission, and Domingo Martinez Jr. received the Father Laurence Tracy Excellence in Leadership Award.
