Puerto Rican Festival Returns To Aurora After 2-Year COVID-19 Hiatus

AURORA, IL — After two years without a festival to celebrate the Puerto Rican culture and community in Aurora due to COVID-19, the Puerto Rican festival returns to downtown Aurora July 31.

Organized by the nonprofit Aurora Puerto Rican Cultural Council, the returning festival will celebrate the 50-year milestone of paying homage to Puerto Rican heritage and culture in Aurora. Starting at 1 p.m. and lasting for 8 hours on the last day of the month, the festival will feature live musical performances, novelty vendors, a beer garden and food, ice cream and piña colada vendors at 65 S. Water St.

Admission to the event is free, but donations are welcome.

Mike Oquendo and FLACO Navaja have been tapped as festival emcees, while DJ Tito Latino will provide the beats.

Several artists are scheduled to perform live:

• Trovador Jovino Gonzalez
• Tony y Sus Campesinos
• Bachata Pura
• Impacto Boricua
• LaObra
• Jhonny Vélez (former vocalist with Grupo Mania)

Children's activities will be available during the one-day fest. The APRCC multicultural scholarship program is also returning this year, awarding recipients more than $15,000 in scholarships.

The festival will be the culmination of a week-long Aurora Puerto Rican Heritage Week celebration. A flag-raising ceremony will kick off festivities at 10 a.m. July 23 at 8 E. Galena Blvd.

At 6:30 p.m. July 29, a pre-fest celebration is set to take place on the outdoor patio at La Quinta de los Reyes, 36 E. New York St. The event will feature the live band Chicago Latin Groove.