Parada
San Juan Bautista

PARADA SAN JUAN BAUTISTA, INC.  
Our History

 The Parada San Juan Bautista Committee's dedication and the continued success of the Parade has been made possible due to its committee's leadership and the generous financial support of various corporate, public, state and local sponsors.

The Parada San Juan Bautista, Inc. also known as the St. John the Baptist Parade was founded in 1957 by the parishioners of Our Lady of Fatima Church to give witness to their faith and to celebrate their Puerto Rican heritage.  The first group marched under the leadership of Father Rogue Longo and Father Leonardo Carrieri.  The Parada San Juan Bautista, Inc. is incorporated as a 501(c)3 tax-exempted, non-profit charitable organization. 

In 1982, the Parada San Juan Bautista was reorganized which signaled the Puerto Rican community's desire to provide a positive demonstration of cultural and civic pride.  Over the years, the organization has evolved from a single event to a celebration that spans from mid-May to the end of June.  The parade is celebrated annually on the last Sunday of June to coincide with the feast of San Juan Bautista, the patron saint of Puerto Rico.  

The Parada San Juan Bautista, Inc. also founded its Scholarship Fund in 1982, which in the last thirteen years, has awarded $12,000 annually to students from local high schools.  The Scholarship Fund assists students with their college educational expenditures.  We are proud of our many scholarship recipients through the years for their excellence and dedication.  

The Parada San Juan Bautista serves to create solidarity and harmony within the entire community.  This is experienced at the grass-roots level within the religious and educational community, the business and the government sector at the city, county and state levels.  Its success in bringing together people from different cultures and races has integrated the parade activities into the social fiber of the City of Camden, New Jersey and the surrounding communities.  the parade is a joyful celebration of Puerto Rican and Latino culture, folklore, art, history and customs. 

Photos courtesy of Bea Caraballo
by permission of
PARADA SAN JUAN BAUTISTA, Inc.