Our Presence in New Haven and Beyond! Then and Now.
Governor John Dempsey officially declared the first Puerto Rican Day in Connecticut on October 4, 1964. The parade was held in Hartford, in part through the efforts of Maria Sanchez and several other Puerto Rican community leaders.
The celebration began as a way for the growing Puerto Rican community in Connecticut—whose population expanded significantly in the 1950s due to industrial job opportunities—to assert its presence and celebrate its culture.
Throughout the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, several groups formed parade committees across the state, including in Waterbury, Bridgeport, Norwalk, Stamford, New Britain, New London, Meriden, and New Haven.
While celebrations in New Haven can be traced back to the 1970s—thanks to the efforts of Abalderto Bouyer, Blanca Torres, and others—it wasn’t until the mid-1980s that Maritza Rosa and fellow organizers expanded the parade to include a festival and additional cultural activities.
Since then, the parade and festivities have taken different shapes over the years while remaining true to their mission of celebrating Puerto Rican culture and community pride. In 2015, after nearly a decade-long hiatus, Puerto Ricans United—an all-volunteer cultural organization—relaunched the festival component of the parade.
Today, the festival continues to be a popular event and a day of pride for many, attracting more than 10,000 attendees each year.