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The sound of marching drums filled the air at the L.E.S. Puerto Rican Parade and Street Festival on Saturday, May 31st. The parade organized by the community group El Grito de Lower East Side (IG@elgritodeles) started a 4 PM at Columbia Street and Rivington Street in Lower Manhattan. The parade had the street packed with the Puerto Rican flag waving proudly in the air.

Making its way down East 11th Street, the parade had dancers, over-the-top floats, and the special surprise of this year’s Grand Marshall, Emmy-winning Talk Show Host and Lower East Side native Adrienne Bailon-Houghton. She came back to her roots in the neighborhood she once lived in, at was at the front of the parade proudly waving to the crowds who cheered wildly when seeing her.

The parade made its way down to the street festival at East 11th and Avenue D, next to the Jacob Riis Housing Complex. The parade had a live band with Content Creator Host Dean Huertas (IG@huertasdeanpr), who was honored as Influencer of the Year at this year’s parade.

The music shook the streets as parade goers partied and danced with the parade mascots. Wearing her rojo, Adrienne championed her Puerto Rican roots, reuniting with the community and seeing familiar faces. With her family, she was a proud advocate of Latino pride and took a moment to speak with Sheen about what it meant to her hometown. “It’s honestly an honor to be here at the L.E.S. Puerto Rican Day Parade,” said Adrienne.

“Mainly, because it’s where I come from and it’s what raised me. All my family is still here, and I am walking down the parade and greeting all the people I grew up with. There’s nothing better than coming home,” she said. “It’s the pride I have for being Puerto Rican.”

The event was not only a parade but a community outreach. In the local parking lot, it turned into a meeting spot for community organizations to reach out to locals with information on employment, unions, and health information. Many health providers, like MetroPlus, and community organizations, like the Henry Street Settlement and GO LES (Good Old Lower East Side), came out to hand out information on job fairs and summer programs for teens. MetroPlus assisted with health insurance enrollment and free blood pressure exams.

The smell of chicken and pastelillos (Puerto Rican meat turnovers) filled the air with food vendors. Food Trucks like Mias Cocina (IG@ mias_cocina) and Anthony’s Do It Like New York Food Truck sold traditional Puerto Rican dishes. The food not only brought in the locals but also members of the political community who attended the parade to reach out about voting for the upcoming Primary Election on June 24th.

At the parade, Chairperson of Manhattan Community Board 3, Andrea Gordillo, visited the parade to engage the youth to register to vote. Gordillo is on the ballot running for City Council in District 2. She spoke on the importance of today’s event: “I’m running today to represent the neighborhood!” said Gordillo.

“I’ve been part of the community and cultural celebration for a decade. They are important to our neighborhood and maintain the character and cultural pride that is under siege more nationally. I am so excited to be here and talking to all my neighbors and celebrating and recognizing many of the leaders in the community.” She said. “ I welcome people to support the Puerto Rican and Latino community in the Lower East Side.”

Another city official was New York City Council Member for District 2, Carlina Rivera, who was this year’s Madrina, (or Godmother). Born and raised in the Lower East Side, she came out to the parade and greeted the attendees of the parade. The parade’s Padrino (or Godfather) was Davis Rosado, a Community Leader and Mentor who grew up in Baruch Houses.

The parade hosted other notable guests and the announcement of the Cultural Ambassador honoree, Sammy Tanco. Tanco and his sister Nellie Tanco were members of the Grammy-nominated group Los Pleneros de la 21, a New York City-based drum ensemble, after migrating to New York in 1983.

The parade also announced this year’s Elder Legacy Award, which went to Puerto Rican-born Aixa Torres (IG@aixa1952). Torres became President of the Alfred E. Smith Resident Association in 2010. Some of her achievements include working with Senator Squardon to push New York City Housing to fully repair the old, faulty gas pipes at Smith Houses that forced residents to go without gas for weeks or months, her effort during Hurricane Irene and Hurricane Sandy and her tireless work for the parents’ association for public schools advocating for children and families.

The last ward went out to Damaris Reyes for the 2025 El Grito Cacica Award honoree. Reyes is the Executive Director of GOLES and a resident of the Lower East Side. She has been involved in many community organizing and environmental justice and environmental issues and sits on the Board of the New York Climate Exchange on Governors Island and the Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice. She was honored for her 25 years of work in the community in the Lower East Side,

The parade continued into the evening hours with dancing and laughter. Today’s celebration was an observance of Boricua heritage and illuminated the culture, color, and strength of the Lower East Side. As the Grand Marshall, Adrienne, took the stage at the end of the parade, she told all her loyal supporters, “Celebrating our culture and our roots and culture means everything to me!”