CLEVELAND — This year marks the 53rd annual Puerto Rican Parade and Expo, which is bringing diverse food, art and rhythyms from across the Caribbean to Cleveland.

What You Need To Know

  • The 2024 Puerto Rican Parade and Expo in Greater Cleveland is taking place Saturday and Sunday

  • Saturday will exclusively focus on culture and food, beginning at noon at the Metrohealth Hospital, and Sunday will kick off with the Puerto Rican Parade at 11:00 am at Castle Ave

  • A group of organizers in Cleveland are showcasing their float, which connects Puerto Rican history to contemporary poltiical issues

Born and raised in Cleveland, Salina Pagán, the executive director of the Young Latino Network, said she's excited to showcase her heritage to the community.

"We're going to have a volunteer sitting here with a traditional pava hat, with the Puerto Rican flag draped over him, to symbolize the Boricua that is sleeping," she said.

The culture and music portion of the festical will begin at noon Saturday at the Metrohealth Hospital's Main Campus in Quad Park. Sunday will open with the Puerto Rican Parade at 11:00 am, starting at Castle Ave. on Scranton Rd. Festival goers will have the opportunity to see a number of featured artists, food vendors and the 2024 honorees.

Pagán and a group of volunteers will showcase their own float.

"I'm a proud Boricua. And so I cherish really diving into our own history, which we're not taught," Pagán said.

Michelle Hernandez Bello who moved to Cleveland from Puerto Rico more than two years ago, is the operations coordinator for the Young Latino Network, and she is helping build the float this year.

She said the display is inspired by the famous Puerto Rican painting, "Despierta Boricua," or "Wake up Boricua."

"Okay. so this is the inspiration with the painting that we're trying to recreate in the in the float... well, this is the typical clothes for Puerto Rico, the jíbaro and jíbara," Hernandez Bello said.

Like "Despierta Boricua," the float will splotlight traditional jíbaros, a term for countryside folks in Puerto Rico – typically farmworkers or laborers. Though this display, Pagán said they are calling people to wake up to the island's current political climate.

"We're going to have volunteers walking the parade, distributing, information about policies that are impacting the island of Puerto Rico, such as Act 22," she said. "Talking about the farm bill and food sovereignty, we’re talking about the junta fisal."

Pagán said helping others make this connection is crucial.

"Understanding these policies, waking up and taking the time to educate ourselves on a deeper level of political work and policies is critically important," Pagán said.

All the while building community through education and celebration.

"I think it's really important for the entire Latino community, not just Puerto Ricans, to understand that Unidos Somos Mas," Pagán said. "Together we are more."