Día Mundial de Ponce

Día Mundial de Ponce is a vibrant cultural celebration held every September in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Commencing on the Monday before Labor Day, the festivities build up to a spectacular grand parade on the Sunday preceding Labor Day. Since its inception in 2012, this event has drawn around 4,000 attendees each year, all gathered to honor Ponce's rich cultural heritage. The celebration's motto, "Ponce, Orgullo de Todos" (Ponce, Everyone's Pride), perfectly encapsulates the spirit of the event.

The idea originated from Rafael Serrano Segarra, a proud Ponce native. In 2011, he was inspired by a magazine article about a pride celebration in Manchester, England. Motivated by this, Serrano shared his vision with fellow residents of Ponce, leading to the creation of the non-profit Comité Pro Día Mundial de Ponce. The Puerto Rican Senate subsequently endorsed the initiative, paving the way for the first celebration in 2012.

Throughout the week leading up to the grand parade, the city buzzes with a wide array of cultural events. In its inaugural year, the celebration featured a theatrical festival, a film festival, lyrical poetry readings, a book fair, a fine arts festival, a romantic music festival, and a classical music festival. The week culminates with a mass, an open house at the Museo de Arte de Ponce, citywide cheering and honking, and finally, the grand parade that traverses over two miles of city streets.

The 2013 celebration, held on September 21, saw more than 3,500 participants and countless enthusiastic spectators. Día Mundial de Ponce has firmly established itself as a cornerstone cultural event, celebrating the pride and heritage of the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico.