Many children take part in Philadelphia's annual Puerto Rican Day Parade along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. (Solmaira Valerio for Billy Penn)

Rain couldn’t dampen the proud spirit and colorful exuberance of Philadelphia’s annual Puerto Rican Day Parade. 

Despite showers connected to Tropical Storm Ophelia, the event brought participants and spectators to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, and performances went on as planned, filling the area in front of the Philadelphia Art Museum with rhythm and music.

The theme of this year’s parade, organized by Concilio in cooperation with Asociación Puertorriqueños en Marcha, was “A celebration of Latino culture in the heart of the city.”

“We’re very happy — as you can see, we have children, teachers, and volunteers,” event manager Marylin Rodriguez told Billy Penn, in Spanish. “We’re very proud to be Puerto Rican, [but] we welcome everyone, not just Puerto Ricans.”

The parade is one of Philadelphia’s oldest cultural events, and is broadcast live on 6ABC. 

Everyone who was present either marched, danced, sang, or smiled as the droplets shone on their umbrellas, ponchos, costumes, and faces.

Scroll down for photos from the wet but exciting day of Puerto Rican pride.

Asociación Puertorriqueños en Marcha leads off the 2023 Puerto Rican Day Parade. (Solmaira Valerio for Billy Penn)
The Sheriff’s Office of Philadelphia prepares flags to kick off the 2023 Puerto Rican Day Parade. (Solmaira Valerio for Billy Penn)
People celebrate Puerto Rican pride despite the rain at Philadelphia’s annual Puerto Rican Day Parade. (Solmaira Valerio for Billy Penn)
Children perform in the rain during Philly’s annual Puerto Rican Day Parade on Sept. 24, 2023. (Solmaira Valerio for Billy Penn)
Children wave the Puerto Rican flag from a car window near the Philadelphia Museum of Art during the Puerto Rican Day Parade on Sept. 24, 2023. (Solmaira Valerio for Billy Penn)
Dancers from the Kensington High School for the Creative and Performing Arts perfom in the rain at Philly’s 2023 Puerto Rican Day Parade. (Solmaira Valerio for Billy Penn)
Dancers from the Kensington High School for the Creative and Performing Arts perfom in the rain at Philly’s 2023 Puerto Rican Day Parade. (Solmaira Valerio for Billy Penn)
Dancers from the Kensington High School for the Creative and Performing Arts perfom in the rain at Philly’s 2023 Puerto Rican Day Parade. (Solmaira Valerio for Billy Penn)
Families gather in the rain to celebrate Philly’s annual Puerto Rican Day Parade on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway on Sept. 24, 2023. (Solmaira Valerio for Billy Penn)
Dancers from with Los Bomberos De La Calle perform with plena bomba music on the Ben Franklin Parkway during Philly’s 2023 Puerto Rican Day Parade. (Solmaira Valerio for Billy Penn)
Dancers from Antonia Pantoja Charter School perfom at Philly’s 2023 Puerto Rican Day Parade. (Solmaira Valerio for Billy Penn)
Dancers from Antonia Pantoja Charter School perfom at Philly’s 2023 Puerto Rican Day Parade. (Solmaira Valerio for Billy Penn)
Dancers from Antonia Pantoja Charter School perfom at Philly’s 2023 Puerto Rican Day Parade. (Solmaira Valerio for Billy Penn)
“We are Guatemalan, but Puerto Rican at heart,” said Nery Salguro, a Philly resident of 22 years. (Solmaira Valerio for Billy Penn)
Children celebrate on a float during Philly’s annual Puerto Rican Day Parade. (Solmaira Valerio for Billy Penn)
A Vejigante, a folkloric character in Puerto Rican celebrations, dances at the 2023 Puerto Rican Day Parade. (Solmaira Valerio for Billy Penn)
Dancers from Memphis Street Academy Charter School perfom in the rain at Philly’s 2023 Puerto Rican Day Parade. (Solmaira Valerio for Billy Penn)
Dancers from Memphis Street Academy Charter School perfom in the rain at Philly’s 2023 Puerto Rican Day Parade. (Solmaira Valerio for Billy Penn)
Jennifer Gomez, attorney and organizer with domestic violence awareness nonprofit “Love Shouldn’t Hurt.” waves the Puerto Rican flag in the rain during the parade. (Solmaira Valerio for Billy Penn)
Leah Lugo Vega, a dancer with Centro Nueva Creación, performs at the Puerto Rican Day Parade on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. (Solmaira Valerio for Billy Penn)
Dancers from Centro Nueva Creación perform at Philly’s Puerto Rican Day Parade. (Solmaira Valerio for Billy Penn)
Families gather in the rain to celebrate Philly’s annual Puerto Rican Day Parade on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway on Sept. 24, 2023. (Solmaira Valerio for Billy Penn)
Shaquis Davenport, director of victim witness services at Concilio, said, “We’re here to make a difference in the lives of others.” (Solmaira Valerio for Billy Penn)
Dancers from Deep Roots Charter School perform in the rain during Philly’s 2023 Puerto Rican Day Parade. (Solmaira Valerio for Billy Penn)
Dancers from Deep Roots Charter School perform in the rain during Philly’s 2023 Puerto Rican Day Parade. (Solmaira Valerio for Billy Penn)
People celebrate Puerto Rican pride despite the rain at Philadelphia’s annual Puerto Rican Day Parade. (Solmaira Valerio for Billy Penn)
A child waves a Puerto Rican flag at the Puerto Rican Day Parade on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. (Solmaira Valerio for Billy Penn)
Families gather in the rain to celebrate Philly’s annual Puerto Rican Day Parade on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway on Sept. 24, 2023. (Solmaira Valerio for Billy Penn)

Solmaira Valerio is a North Philly native photographer. They studied photography at the Community College of Philadelphia and graduated with a BA in Journalism and a minor in Clinical Psychology from Temple...