About

History

In 1957, a group of parishioners from Our Lady of Mount Carmel/Fatima Church marched under the leadership of its founder, Father Leonardo Carrieri. These parishioners gave witness to their and Puerto Rican heritage, culture and traditions, thus forming the Parada San Juan Bautista, Inc. also known as St. John the Baptist Parade, Inc. It epitomized the aspirations of a community in search of recognition and equal opportunities. One of the main objectives of the first parade was to present a positive image of the Puerto Rican community.

The mission of the Parada San Juan Bautista, Inc. is to create solidarity and harmony within the entire community. This is experienced at the grassroots level within the religious and educational community, the business and government sector at the city, county and state levels. Its success in bringing together people from different cultures and background has integrated our activities and events into the social fiber of the city and surrounding communities.

Over the years, the organization has evolved from a single event to a celebration that spans from the month of May until the end of June. Our Calendar of Events consists of a Business & Professional Reception, Coronation Pageant, Commemorative Mass &, Flag Raising Ceremony educates the public of our Puerto Rican history and the purpose of our flag, Distinguished Citizens Luncheon, and Annual Gala. It also consists of an Annual Parade which is a joyful celebration of Latino culture, folklore, art, history and customs. We continue to plant our seeds within the community and witness its growth into a beautiful flamboyant tree.

We end our months long celebration with the largest outdoor summer concert which spotlights the many talents of our Latino culture. These two events are celebrated on the last Sunday in June, at the Camden Waterfront, to coincide with the feast of San Juan Bautista, the patron Saint of Puerto Rico.

During the Spanish invasion, the archipelago was renamed San Juan Bautista, in honor of St. John the Baptist. Today we call her Puerto Rico or Boriken, the name given by the original inhabitants, the Taino.

Each Puerto Rican town celebrates fiestas patronales, which are Patron Saint Festivals, and many towns have additional festivals, which honor cultural icons like Bomba y plena, danza, salsa, hamacas and popular crops such as plantains and coffee. This country puts a premium on celebration. Since St. John the Baptist is the patron saint of the Island and the namesake of the capital city (San Juan), his day is widely celebrated by big parties on the beach.