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The 50th anniversary of the Jersey City Puerto Rican Heritage Festival and Parade started off its weekend of celebration on Friday night with a Gala Banquet at Casino in the Park. Decorated in gold and white in honor of the Golden Anniversary, the banquet brought in a large number of people dressed up in beautiful gowns and stylish suits.

In attendance were elected officials of all stripes, and all the 2010 honorees, including Grand Marshall Johnny Lozada, the actor and former member of boy band Menudo, and Laura Posada, wife of the New York Yankees catcher Jorge Posada and co-founder of the Jorge Posada Foundation. The program ceremony was lead by city fire director Armando Roman, who is also president of the festival and parade. Roman introduced each honoree and gave them time to address the guests and then presented them with an honorary plaque. Once the program finished and the dinner was over, the DJ started the music so the guests could enjoy the rest of the night dancing.

Saturday’s festival at Exchange place kicked off at a slow pace when it started at noon, but it picked up around the late afternoon. The vendors set up along the way carried authentic Puerto Rican food, goods, and beverages, and salsa and merengue music could be heard playing from the main stage. The Puerto Rican community came out showing their pride whether it was by carrying their flags or wearing them. As it got closer to night, live musical acts took to the main stage getting the festival-goers into the dancing spirit. With good food, music, and weather, Saturday left people in a good mood and ready for the next day’s parade.

But Sunday began with a rough start, weather-wise, with rain and overcast skies. Though the sky was filled with clouds, the rain held off at the beginning of the parade, which stepped off from Lincoln Park at 1 pm. But as the parade wound its way down to City Hall, the weather became markedly worse, but the parade kept on. The community may have been wet, but they kept their pride strong as they waved their flags while holding tightly to umbrellas. With each float choosing its own music, the streets were filled with different sounds that could be heard from blocks away. Spectators waited excitedly on street corners, happily cheering and waving as floats passed them by. When the parade ended, those still in the celebrating mood went down to Exchange Place for a second day of the festival.