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The Puerto Rican Festival of Massachusetts began in 1967 out of Boston’s South End neighborhood. A small group of Puerto Ricans wanted to create an event that would promote a sense of belonging and cultural affirmation for Puerto Ricans in Massachusetts. The first festival was held in Blackstop Park with approximately 2,500 attendees.
Over the years it has grown into a two day festival celebrating Puerto Rican culture and connecting Puerto Ricans across Massachusetts. More than 90,000 people are expected to attend this year’s festival.
The Festival will begin on Monday, July 24, 2023, with the flag raising at the Puerto Rican Veterans Memorial at 1440 Washington Street in Boston.
Puerto Rican Celebration At Fenway Park
On July 23, 2023, at 7:30 pm, the Boston Red Sox will play the Atlanta Braves. This will be the night for their annual Puerto Rican Celebration in keeping with the Puerto Rican Festival of Massachusetts.
If you purchase the special theme night ticket, you will receive a custom Red Sox replica jersey. It will have the Puerto Rican flag on the front of the jersey and the outline of Puerto Rico on the sleeve. The Red Sox replica jersey will be in sizes S to XL with sizes distributed on a first come, first served basis. There will also be cultural entertainment, including live music on Jersey Street.
This offer is available online only. You can purchase the special ticket here.
Theme night tickets frequently sell out, unfortunately. If that happens, you can purchase a ticket for the game here and save $7 off the regular rate.
Puerto Rican Festival at City Hall Plaza
On Saturday, July 29, 2023, at 12 pm, the Puerto Rican Festival of Massachusetts will begin at City Hall Plaza.
There will be 2 days of non-stop music. Musical artists from all over Massachusetts will be performing for free to support the festival. If you are a music lover, this is a not-to-be-missed event!
You can enjoy carnival rides. These will be games and activities for children and families.
Vendors
One highlight of the festival is the food vendors selling delicious Puerto Rican food. Try a tostone, a twice fried plantain. Or have a mofongo, which is a mash of fried plantains, crunchy pork skin and garlic. Be sure to come hungry!
Arts & Crafts vendors will also be at the festival, selling their unique wares. Merchandise and service vendors will be there, too, making for a great shopping experience.
The festival will end with the parade that will begin at 12 pm on July 30. 2023, at the City Hall Plaza. See colorful floats, dance troupes, marching bands, singers and appearances by distinguished honorees.
Puerto Rican Food
If you liked the Puerto Rican food at the festival and it made you want to learn more about Puerto Rican cooking, try these cookbooks. And you can use our links to see how you can save money on them.
- Diasporican: A Puerto Rican Cookbook by Illyanna Maisonet
- Puerto Rican Cuisine in America by Oswald Rivera
- The Puerto Rican Cookbook by Denise D. Myers
Boston Hotels & Flights
If you’d like to visit Boston for the Puerto Rican Festival, you should consider the following hotels. They are all offering discounted rates which can save you money on your stay.
- Mandarin Oriental Boston 33% Discount
- The Kendall Hotel 31% Discount
- Boston Harbor Hotel 25% Discount
- YOTEL Boston 24% Discount
- Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport 20% Discount
- The Langham Boston 15% Discount
- citizenM Boston North Station 15% Discount
- Wyndham Boston Beacon Hill 15% Discount
- The Boxer 15% Discount
- Moxy Boston Downtown 15% Discount
- The Bostonian Boston 15% Discount
- The Royal Sonesta Boston 15% Discount
- Courtyard by Marriott Boston Cambridge 15% Discount
- The Arcadian powered by Sonder 15% Discount
- Encore Boston Harbor Resort 14% Discount
- Battery Wharf Hotel, Boston Waterfront 11% Discount
- The Whitney Hotel 11% Discount
- Ginkgo House on Harvard 11% Discount
- Boston Park Plaza 10% Discount
- XV Beacon 10% Discount
- Hyatt Regency 10% Discount
- Hotel AKA Back Bay 10% Discount
- Oasis Guest House 10% Discount
- Studio Allston Hotel 10% Discount
- DoubleTree by Hilton Boston Logan Airport Chelsea 10% Discount
If you’re going to be flying to Boston, you can book your flight here and use the promo code “SUMMER30” to save $30 on your flight.