HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — The countdown is on to this year’s Greater Hartford Puerto Rican Day Parade & Festival, celebrating rich culture and heritage.
This year’s godmother, Aura Luz Alvarado, said she is honored to participate in an event celebrating and honoring Puerto Rican heritage, something she said many generations felt they needed to hide from.
“It’s part of your identity,” Alvarado said. “I started saying my parents, they wanted us to be infused in American culture. They were afraid how they were going to be treated. I went to an all-white school. Being back with my community on Park Street, it’s important. I try to tell my boys, who are half West Indian and half Puerto Rican, that it’s a blend of culture, arts, and music. and when you embody a little bit of all those things, oh my god, you’re life is so much more fun.”
Alvarado said so much love and planning goes into an event like this.
If you can’t attend Sunday’s parade, watch it live on News 8 and WTNH.com starting at 1 p.m.