A celebration of Hispanic culture, music, food and the holiday season is returning to Miller Symphony Hall.
The hall will host its second annual Latin Parranda on Saturday. Last year’s Puerto Rican holiday party sold out, and limited tickets are available for the earlier of two celebrations planned this year.
“Come expecting a great time,” said Hector Rodriguez Jr., leader of the band Clave Legacy, which will once again perform at the parranda. “Enjoy some Spanish food, Spanish music and Spanish heritage.”
A parranda is a Puerto Rican Christmas tradition, where families travel from house to house to sing and celebrate.
For Miller Symphony Hall, home to the Allentown Symphony Orchestra, it’s also an opportunity to both celebrate Hispanic culture and reach out to the community surrounding the historic theater.
Hector Rodriquez and band perform during the Parranda, a Puerto Rican holiday celebration, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, at Miller Symphony Hall in Allentown. (David Garrett/Special to The Morning Call)
Jayden Torres of Allentown wears a pava jibara and plays the guiro during the Parranda, a Puerto Rican holiday celebration, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, at Miller Symphony Hall in Allentown. (David Garrett/Special to The Morning Call)
Robert Velez of Allentown plays the padeiro during the Parranda, a Puerto Rican holiday celebration, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, at Miller Symphony Hall in Allentown. (David Garrett/Special to The Morning Call)
Pierre Baston and Malgorzata Rockiki of Macungie dance a tango during the Parranda, a Puerto Rican holiday celebration, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, at Miller Symphony Hall in Allentown. (David Garrett/Special to The Morning Call)
Amigos Mexican Grill served tacos during the Parranda, a Puerto Rican holiday celebration, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, at Miller Symphony Hall in Allentown. (David Garrett/Special to The Morning Call)
People dance during the Parranda, a Puerto Rican holiday celebration, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, at Miller Symphony Hall in Allentown. (David Garrett/Special to The Morning Call)
Pierre Baston and Malgorzata Rockiki of Macungie dance a tango during the Parranda, a Puerto Rican holiday celebration, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, at Miller Symphony Hall in Allentown. (David Garrett/Special to The Morning Call)
Emcee Maryanell Agosto of Whitehall addresses the crowd during the Parranda, a Puerto Rican holiday celebration, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, at Miller Symphony Hall in Allentown. (David Garrett/Special to The Morning Call)
Robert Velez of Allentown plays the padeiro during the Parranda, a Puerto Rican holiday celebration, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, at Miller Symphony Hall in Allentown. (David Garrett/Special to The Morning Call)
People enjoying the dancing during the Parranda, a Puerto Rican holiday celebration, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, at Miller Symphony Hall in Allentown. (David Garrett/Special to The Morning Call)
Pierre Baston and Malgorzata Rockiki of Macungie dance a tango during the Parranda, a Puerto Rican holiday celebration, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, at Miller Symphony Hall in Allentown. (David Garrett/Special to The Morning Call)
People dance during the Parranda, a Puerto Rican holiday celebration, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, at Miller Symphony Hall in Allentown. (David Garrett/Special to The Morning Call)
Maria Garcia of La Cocina Del Abuelo serves dinner during the Parranda, a Puerto Rican holiday celebration, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, at Miller Symphony Hall in Allentown. (David Garrett/Special to The Morning Call)
Pierre Baston and Malgorzata Rockiki of Macungie dance a tango during the Parranda, a Puerto Rican holiday celebration, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, at Miller Symphony Hall in Allentown. (David Garrett/Special to The Morning Call)
People dance during the Parranda, a Puerto Rican holiday celebration, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, at Miller Symphony Hall in Allentown. (David Garrett/Special to The Morning Call)
Maria Garcia of La Cocina Del Abuelo serves dinner during the Parranda, a Puerto Rican holiday celebration, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, at Miller Symphony Hall in Allentown. (David Garrett/Special to The Morning Call)
People dance during the Parranda, a Puerto Rican holiday celebration, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, at Miller Symphony Hall in Allentown. (David Garrett/Special to The Morning Call)
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Hector Rodriquez and band perform during the Parranda, a Puerto Rican holiday celebration, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, at Miller Symphony Hall in Allentown. (David Garrett/Special to The Morning Call)
“The idea was really to make people from Latin cultures feel comfortable here, and feel like this is a place they could fit in and enjoy other types of music or whatever programming we have,” said marketing director Lori Beneyton. “In the beginning, they were saying, ‘This isn’t a place for us. We’re not comfortable here.’ We’re right next to a heavily Puerto Rican neighborhood here.”
In 2024, Allentown Symphony Orchestra Conductor and Music Director Diane Wittry created the Latin Leadership Committee, inviting community members to brainstorm ideas on how to increase engagement in a community that’s nearly 60% Hispanic.
“It’s super exciting,” said Rodriguez, a member of the committee. “It opens up a lot of opportunity to share our culture with the community. There’s many different cultures and communities out there that we haven’t explored yet. To be part of a community is just a great experience.”
Last year’s inaugural parranda was a huge success, selling out largely through word of mouth.
“It was a big success because we listened,” Beneyton said. “We really engaged with each other and really worked together to do it. That’s why we succeeded with it. It really represented the culture.”
This year, there are two sittings, at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.; the later event has sold out but tickets remain available for the family-friendly afternoon event.
Both sittings will include Latin music from Clave Legacy, food from Grandpa’s Kitchen/La Cocina del Abuelo and El Tipico, and dancing. The afternoon event will include piñatas, and the evening will feature a coquito contest to determine who makes the best holiday drink.
Greenburg Lemus, owner of Grandpa’s Kitchen/La Cocina del Abuelo, said there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
“It’s our culture. It’s what we do in our countries,” he said. “We’re trying to make sure everybody enjoys every single culture. There are are different people who come from everywhere — Puerto Rico, Guatemala, Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela, Dominican Republic — everywhere. It’s very important for the community to come and enjoy this.”
If you go
The Latin Parranda will be held at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, at Miller Symphony Hall, 23 N. Sixth St. in Allentown. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for children ages 12 and under. Order online at https://millersymphonyhall.org/event/latin-parranda/ or call the box office at 610-432-6715.