HUMBOLDT PARK — A long-running Puerto Rican festival is back this weekend, bringing island performances, food and more to Humboldt Park’s Division Street.
The 29th Fiesta Boricua De Bandera a Bandera is noon-8 p.m. Saturday-Sunday on Division Street between Western and California avenues, known as Paseo Boricua. It’s the heart of Humboldt Park’s Puerto Rican community.
Like in past years, festgoers can expect “a total immersion into Puerto Rican culture,” organizers said in a news release.
This year’s musical lineup features Ángel “Papote” Alvarado y El Grupo Esencia, La Escuelita Bombera de Corazón and JBro Bugatti and Del Patio Ángel Melendez y su Orquesta featuring Flaco Navaja. There will be Puerto Rican food and art, along with activities for kids, including laser tag, a dunk tank and basketball.
Organizers are using the fest to celebrate the milestones of two Humboldt Park institutions: the 50th anniversary of Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos Puerto Rican High School and the 20th anniversary of Café Teatro Batey Urbano, a cultural space and youth center.
At 5 p.m. Sunday, organizers will gather to recognize the steel Puerto Rican flags that bookend Paseo Boricua, sculptures that recently became Chicago landmarks.
Luis Irizarry Pabón, the mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico, is slated to attend.
Fiesta Boricua is free, but a $5 donation is recommended.
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