On behalf of the Greater Waterbury Puerto Rican Day Parade & Festival Planning Committee, a proud program of the Afro-Caribbean Cultural Center, we extend our deepest gratitude to the Office of the Mayor and to the many City Departments whose support makes
our cultural celebrations possible.

 

We especially thank John Kollar, Supervisor of Parks; Alexandra DeGirolamo, Mayoral Aide; as well as
the Waterbury Police Department, Fire Department, Public Works, Health Department, and every municipal division that contributes time, guidance, and collaboration. Your continued partnership strengthens our community and ensures the success and safety of these important cultural traditions.

 

We also acknowledge the long and meaningful history of Puerto Rican parades and festivals in the City of Waterbury—a history that spans sixty years and reflects both the resilience and contributions of our Boricua community:

 

• 1966 – Waterbury hosted the Third Connecticut Puerto Rican Day Parade on October 9, 1966, themed “Unity of Puerto Rican communities in Connecticut.” Over 10,000 attendees participated.

• 1970 – The city hosted the Seventh Connecticut Puerto Rican Day Parade on September 27, 1970, themed “Register and Vote,” drawing nearly 10,000 people.

• 1999 – Waterbury held the Thirty-Fifth Connecticut Puerto Rican Day Parade on June 6, 1999, celebrating Puerto Rican pride and unity with over 40,000 attendees.

• 2023 – The Greater Waterbury Puerto Rican Day Parade & Festival held its first annual modern celebration on July 22, 2023, welcoming an estimated 3,000 participants.

• 2024 – Our second annual Parade & Festival took place on September 14, 2024, drawing approximately 4,000 attendees.

• 2025 – On September 6, 2025, we hosted our third annual event, which welcomed an estimated 5,000 attendees.

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Now, as we approach sixty years from Waterbury’s first-ever Puerto Rican Day Parade, and our fourth as a local  committee, we proudly continue this legacy.

 

This year’s theme, “Boricua Taínos of Waterbury, Connecticut,” honors the Indigenous heritage, cultural
endurance, and community leadership that continue to shape the Puerto Rican identity in our city.