Fun and celebration at 52nd annual Puerto Rican Parade

CENTER CITY (WPVI) -- The sounds of celebration rang through the air along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway on Sunday as more than 1,000 people marched in Philadelphia's 52nd annual Puerto Rican Parade.

"We all get together and celebrate Puerto Rico," said Sonia Torres.

The red, white and blue of the Puerto Rican flag could be seen flying in the breeze on festive masks and even on the t-shirts of the energetic Zumba dancers along the parade route.

The annual event is a chance for generations to come together to celebrate their culture and all it has to offer.

"Have a little fun like I did with my parents. When I was growing up, we used to come and I want them to have the same adventure we did when we were kids," said Edwin Fernandez.

"Basically that they learn about their culture and see what it's about - the dancing and the dresses and the food. It's an experience for them since we haven't been to Puerto Rico in so long," said Marycely Velasquez.

The parade featured beauty queens and festive floats, along with both new and traditional takes on Puerto Rican dance.

Marisol Centeno says the traditional dances are what she most loves to watch.

"The back in the day dancers, they got the skirts out and the back in the day songs from Puerto Rico, it's fun and it's exciting," said Centeno.

The parade wasn't the end of Sunday's celebration, afterwards many parade-goers returned to their neighborhoods for more food and fun festivities.