NATIONAL COQUITO FESTIVAL
Coquito (small coconut) is a rich, creamy coconut-based holiday drink with Puerto Rican origins. It is generally made with coconut milk, coconut cream, sweet condensed milk, rum, cinnamon, vanilla and cloves. The National Coquito Festival, in keeping with the mission of PRAA, was established in 2018 to promote and preserve the heritage of this iconic drink – and to draw people together during the holiday season in order to continue to nurture pride in our culture and traditions.
National Cuatro Festival
The Cuatro is regarded as the national instrument of Puerto Rico and is revered by the Puerto Rican community as an important part of our history. It is recognized and acknowledged as “our guitar” and holds important traditional and historical value. This cultural event highlights the national instrument of Puerto Rico as an important part of our heritage and history.
Gabriel Muñoz
Come solo or bring a partner as we dance under the stars! Due to limited space you should arrive early and pets are not allowed.
Papo Santiago
This outdoor event is held at the Puerto Rican Arts Alliance Terrazzo and FREE to the public.
Noche Caribeña
Since 2017, PRAA has hosted the Noche Caribeña concert at Navy Pier’s Polk Bros Park Lake Stage Lawn. In partnership with Navy Pier, this summertime event is FREE and open to the public. Featured are Cuatristas along with international and local artists with their groups, as well as, up and coming musicians. This concert offers audience members multiple music genres including Puerto Rican and Afro-Caribbean folk, popular Latin American, big band, salsa, ballads, bomba and plena interpretations. Set with a backdrop of Navy Pier, spectacular views of Chicago and the resonances of music draw Chicago residents and visitors for an enjoyable evening concert.
This year on August 17, 2024 PRAA is honored to present to you some of the most prominent local music artists from Chicago.
Persistence/Persistencia: The Lion’s Roar in the Puerto Rican Arts
Persistence examines the migration of Puerto Rican student-artists to Chicago beginning in the 1920s to study fine arts at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. The exhibition present a chronology of over 30 artists admitted to this prestigious institution and a selection of artwork representative of each decade. Showcasing the work of a group of artists reaffirming their national identity as a response to the Chicago experience, the exhibition addresses the migration experience, adaptation to the Chicago environment, confronting institutional colorism and race, and clashing with the Puerto Rico-United States colonial establishment. Curated by Jorge Felix and Lizette Cruz-Perez, curatorial assistant.