Puerto Rican pride was on full display for the 50th celebration of the Aurora Puerto Rican festival Sunday.
After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, members of the Aurora Puerto Rican Cultural Council moved into high gear to organize an event honoring the five decades the festival has been celebrated.
“We are looking forward to a full day of everyone enjoying the celebration of our 50 years in Aurora,” said Iris Miller, president of the Aurora Puerto Rican Cultural Council. “The beautiful day makes a huge difference and everything is running smoothly.”
The one-day festival was held at Water Street Square across from City Hall in downtown Aurora. The city of Aurora and the Aurora Puerto Rican Cultural Council held a Puerto Rican flag-raising ceremony at One Aurora Plaza downtown the day before the festival.
The 50th year of the festival is significant, Aurora Chief Communications and Equity Officer Clayton Muhammad said.
“A small group that started the Puerto Rican festival in 1972 received a letter from President Richard Nixon and 50 years later they are showing resilience by being in Aurora. The Puerto Rican population is lower but the quality of what they produce for the festival is huge,” Muhammad said.
The event featured traditional Puerto Rican music, an activity area for children, beer garden, authentic Puerto Rican food, pina coladas and ice cream vendors, organizers said.
In addition to entertainment and food, this year the Aurora Puerto Rican Cultural Council awarded $20,000 in multi-cultural educational scholarships at the festival.
The Feliciano family, which runs the family business El Puerco Loco De Poncho, was at the event offering slices of freshly seasoned roasted pig with Puerto Rican rice infused with its own flavorful seasonings.
Festival attendees quickly formed a line for a taste of roasted pig.
Poncho Feliciano of El Puerco Loco De Poncho has been roasting pigs in Aurora for about 30 years, he said.
“I appreciate Puerto Rican music and food,” Feliciano said. “The festival feels as though I am home on the island.”
The family helps with the business.
“My dad prepares a special seasoning the night before. He cooks the pig over a rotisserie for about five hours,” Luis Feliciano said of his dad’s expertise.
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“We’ll probably go through two roasted pigs in about four hours,” he said.
Luis Feliciano said it was difficult for the family to not be able to be at the festival during the first two years of the pandemic.
“My dad is relieved to be here,” he said. “He’s been doing this since before I was born. When he had to stop cooking, it hurt his main income. It’s a blessing to be back.”
Festival-goers for the first time could get an ice cold Medalla Light, a Puerto Rican beer, because it recently became available in Illinois, organizers said.
“Medalla has been in Illinois for the past four months and we were able to bring it to the festival,” Miller said.
Aurora neighbors Margo Delgado and Angie Emeric were celebrating their Puerto Rican heritage at the festival.
“We appreciate being with family and seeing friends that we have not seen for three years because of the pandemic,” Delgado said.
They appreciate that organizers were able to host the event this year in downtown Aurora.
“It’s important to keep the Puerto Rican heritage going in Aurora,” Delgado said.
The women grew up in Puerto Rico and eventually made Aurora their home.
“A lot of Puerto Ricans have moved away but we have stayed and want to share our culture and heritage. The island is beautiful. It’s where the ocean and sky unite,” Delgado said.
Domingo Barbosa came from Shorewood to enjoy the festival in Aurora.
“I was born in Puerto Rico. The atmosphere feels like home. I am glad the festival is back,” Barbosa said.
Some festival-goers were rather emotional about the return of the event.
“It’s difficult to find the words to explain how it feels to be able to celebrate and share our heritage with others,” said Kristy Rosado, of Aurora.
Cathy Sanchez of Joliet enjoyed an alcohol-free pina colada at the event.
“It’s great to see such an elaborate and cultural event in Aurora for Puerto Ricans,” Sanchez said. “The music, food and friendship remind me of being on the island.”
Aurora artist Johnny Felix showcased his artistry at Sunday’s festival.
“The festival brings a fresh vibe to Aurora,” Felix said. “Puerto Ricans are family-oriented and we like to have fun, plus we love baseball. It’s some of the traditions we take from our grandparents.”
Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.