The Puerto Rican Parade and Cultural Festival celebrates the Puerto Rican culture with live entertainment, food, artistic vendors, and booths held by local businesses and organizations. There is a large parade on Sunday.
2026 DATE: August 1-2, 2026
Location: Metrohealth Main Campus Medical Center
2500 Metrohealth Dr
Cleveland, OH 44109
Website: https://www.puertoricanparade.org/
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This post documents my experience on August 2, 2025.
You can also read my experience on August 4, 2012 when it took place at a different location and was called the Puerto Rican Parade and Latino Fest –
https://ohiofestivals.net/puerto-rican-parade-and-latino-fest-cleveland
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Within the park of the MetroHealth Hospital Main Campus…
…the Puerto Rican Parade and Cultural Festival was being celebrated.
Lines of tables were spread around the grounds…
…offering game wheels, prizes and literature to inform festivals goers about natural resources, educational opportunities (Cleveland Water/Tri-C)…
…voter registration, financial security (Cuyahoga County Board of Elections/Huntington Bank)…
…and where to find great tropical music (Fuego).
There were also many non-profit organizations who were helping adults get back on their feet (The Salvation Army)…
…supporting and mentoring our youth (Young Latino Network/Esperanza)…
…and providing safe and empowering spaces to multi cultural LGBTQ+ communities (MQA+).
Gift vendors could also be found among the tables, offering Puerto Rican flags and hats…
…official festival T-shirts (ObsequioART)…
…and skilled artwork found in the forms of painted seashells (ObsequioART)…
…paper maiche vejigante (Becky Aviles)…
…framed prints (Bruno Casiano)…
…paintings by various artists via Cam Creates Art Studio…
…and handmade jewelry (Minerva Torres).
In terms of activities, children had the opportunity to make their own pendants…
…check out the NatureTracks trailer (Cleveland Metroparks)…
…or try their luck at a prize game…
…all while their parents sat back and relaxed at the beer garden area…
…which conveniently faced the stage…
…so that they easily could take in the great musical entertainment.
Fortunately, both the stage and the beer garden were very close to the food area…
…which consisted of a handful of Puerto Rican (and Philly Greek) food vendors with offerings that included empanadas…
…and some impressive pinchos.
The main food vendor was Sabor Boricua, which used its banner as a menu (sans prices) with offerings of blood sausage, fritters, marinated pork, rice and beans…
…and some decadent fried pork.
Unfortunately there was no sign of some Puerto Rican dishes like rellenos de papas, pastelillos, and pasteles…
…so empanadas and tostones were some alternatives.
Maybe even a walking taco for the kids.