National Puerto Rican Day Parade

Yesterday, Manhattan hosted the 69th National Puerto Rican Day Parade — one of New York City’s largest cultural celebrations. More than a million participants and spectators were expected along Fifth Avenue, where Puerto Rican pride, music, dance, and endless waves of flags filled the streets.

I spent three hours walking the parade route with my camera.

Rather than focusing only on the biggest moments, I tried to photograph what I was seeing and feeling: the crowds, the families, the performers, the quiet moments between the noise, and the small stories hidden inside a very big event.

These are some of the photographs from the day.

I hope they give you a sense of what it felt like to be there.