BRIDGEPORT -- The Latin beat was so alluring Sunday in the streets along the route of the 17th annual Puerto Rican Parade of Fairfield County that no one would have thought twice if the street lights joined in the shimmying and swaying.
The mile-long pavement party began at Central High School, where about 20 floats, a fleet of cars, several dignitaries, hundreds of participants and six special horses began their march to Seaside Park. Among the dignitaries were Frankie Negron, a famous salsa singer who rode in the parade and then entertained the throng of revelers at the Puerto Rican festival at the Park; Maria Vargas, of Bridgeport, the Woman of the Year; and countless pageant winners wearing crowns.
As one person put it, "This is a parade of loudspeakers and princesses".
