Puerto Rican Festival of Massachusetts

The Puerto Rican Festival of Massachusetts was born in 1967 out of Boston’s South End neighborhood. A small group of Puerto Rican pioneers, under the leadership of the late Jorge “Chico” Muñoz, became the first Festival Committee. The committee, along with the commitment of a countless number of community stakeholders, set out to create an event that would promote a sense of belonging and cultural affirmation for Puerto Ricans living across the Commonwealth. This first event took place in Blackstone Park, with approximately 2,500 in attendance. This launched the Puerto Rican Festival of Massachusetts. Over time we’ve grown from a cultural festival to a non-profit cultural and community building organization. We host a wide variety of programming and events every year, including a 2-day festival in Boston, Puerto Rican Heritage Night at Fenway Park, a Puerto Rican flag raising ceremony, a cultural pageant program, professional development workshops, artistic opportunities for young people, athletic tournaments, community service opportunities and drives. We seek to build community, celebrate culture, and connect Puerto Ricans across the commonwealth – while also maintaining strong connections and partnerships with organizations across Massachusetts and in Puerto Rico.