After taking a year off due to the pandemic and moving from summer to fall for 2021, the Puerto Rican Festival has returned for its 39th year in Humboldt Park.

The event’s organizers say attendees can expect more arts and cultural representation than ever before – but the heart of the celebration will always be Puerto Rican music. 

Brianna Ramirez-Smith, one of the fest’s organizers, says that while there is much more to the festival, “everyone really comes for the music.” Musicians Michael Stuart, Charlie Cruz, Pete Perignon, and Frankie Negron are the musical headliners for the weekend. 

In addition to musical performances, an artisan market, sports events, children’s activities, and live artist demonstrations will dot the historic park site.

“It’s also important to really highlight the other facets of our culture, which is the arts. So this is not your typical Puerto Rican festival,” Ramirez-Smith said. “We like to name it as the new fest, and the future of the Puerto Rican festival. Which is showing a more well-rounded view of who we are as a people as opposed to … it’s just music and party. We’re more than that.”