Puerto Rican Day Parade set to return Sunday for first time since pandemic

NEW YORK - This weekend, the Puerto Rican Day Parade is back, and people will be able to line the streets to watch for the first time since the pandemic.

Bond Parade Floats are back in business after a pandemic pause, and owner Robert DeVito has sleepless nights ahead.

"A sense of relief but excitement. They're coming back and they're coming back in a major way," he told CBS2's Aundrea Cline-Thomas.

Among the biggest is the National Puerto Rican Day Parade, set to return in person on Sunday for the 65th year. Organizers estimate 1.5 million people will attend this year's parade. 

"The New York City Puerto Rican Day Parade is as popular as they come. It's exciting, people showing off their heritage, their culture," DeVito said.

Now, the countdown is on for DeVito to complete 38 floats this year. In addition to the floats, 150 groups will be marching down Fifth Avenue, led by the grand marshal, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona.

"Our king will be Nicky Jam. Godfather and godmother are going to be Fat Joe and Angie Martinez," National Puerto Rican Day Board Member Neysa Alsina said.

The colorful celebration is also steeped in purpose as this year's cause is climate change, after the devastation of Hurricane Maria.

After a two-year hiatus, Alsina says, "What we want to send as a message is that we're resilient people and that we're back."

Embodying the theme of one nation with many voices.

The parade starts at 11 a.m. Sunday and marches along Fifth Avenue from 43rd Street to 79th Street.

The following streets will be closed:

• 5th Avenue between 44th Street and 86th Street
• 6th Avenue between West 43rd Street and West 49th Street
• 43rd Street between 6th Avenue and Madison Avenue
• 44th Street between 6th Avenue and Madison Avenue
• 45th Street between 6th Avenue and Madison Avenue
• 46th Street between 6th Avenue and Madison Avenue
• 47th Street between 6th Avenue and Madison Avenue
• 48th Street between 6th Avenue and Madison Avenue
• West 51st Street between Rockefeller Plaza and 5th Avenue
• West 58th Street between Grand Army Plaza and 5th Avenue
• East 60th Street between 5th Avenue and Madison Avenue
• East 63rd Street between 5th Avenue and Madison Avenue
• East 64th Street between 5th Avenue and Madison Avenue
• East 66th Street between 5th Avenue and Madison Avenue
• East 69th Street between 5th Avenue and Park Avenue
• East 70th Street between 5th Avenue and Madison Avenue
• East 72nd Street between 5th Avenue and Park Avenue
• East 74th Street between 5th Avenue and Madison Avenue
• East 79th Street between 5th Avenue and Park Avenue
• East 80th Street between 5th Avenue and Park Avenue
• East 81st Street between 5th Avenue and Park Avenue
• East 82nd Street between 5th Avenue and Park Avenue
• East 83rd Street between 5th Avenue and Park Avenue
• East 84th Street between 5th Avenue and Madison Avenue
• East 85th Street between 5th Avenue and Madison Avenue
• Madison Avenue between East 43rd Street and East 86th Street

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