On the 54th anniversary, Concilio celebrated the annual Puerto Rican Day Parade as the city’s oldest and largest outdoor event celebrating Puerto Rican heritage in Philadelphia.

Packed with dance performances, community groups, and youth groups, the event took place on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and highlighted the dynamics of Puerto Rican culture in the Philadelphia community.

As the third largest Puerto Rican population in the continental U.S., the parade serves as a recognition of the largest hispanic population in Philadelphia and provides an opportunity for groups in the Delaware Valley to participate.

The annual parade is organized by the Council of Spanish Speaking Organizations of Philadelphia (Concilio). Banegas, who was appointed to the Executive Director position in July, states that he has hopes for the future of the parade despite a decline in attendance and corporate participation.

“The 54th annual Puerto Rican Parade has shifted over the years in terms of the needs of the community. Participation and attendance has gone down but with any new administration, there are ways to re-engage the community. So while this year’s did not have the turnout of the past, not too many changes could be made, we have an entire year of planning on board to change the future of the parade,” says Adonis Banegas, Executive Director of Concilio.

While the crowd attendance figures on Sunday have yet to be reported t, the rough numbers have yet to match those of past attendance. As well as 40 groups participating in the walking parade.

"In the past we had over 100 groups participating and holding focus groups to retract the groups that are no longer participating. To make sure it’s as large as it once was. We want to be known as one of the best in the nation it’s going to take more work and some community push to make that happen. Concilio will be responsible that the behind the scenes activity happen to improve year to year. It’s going to be ever evolving,” Banegas said.