Members of Sacred Heart Chapel anticipate annual cultural night

Members of the community are welcome to attend Sacred Heart Chapel in Lorain on Dec. 29 for the fourth annual Parranda Cultural Night.

Guests will be treated to a parranda, or musical event, with traditional Puerto Rican music and food as friends, family, faith and the holidays are celebrated the way most do in Puerto Rico, according to Victor Leandry, creator of the event and member of Sacred Heart’s Finance Committee.

A Coquito Contest will take place before the celebration at the church’s hall, 4301 Pearl Ave., where guests can taste and judge the best coquito made by contestants.

Contestants will be judged on the taste of their traditional versions or flavors made of the Puerto Rican mixed, holiday drink.

A first- and second-place winner will be awarded before the musical celebration begins.

Items such as rice and pork, guineos escabeche, surullos and hot dogs and more.

Leandry said the familyoriented event is a way to keep Puerto Rican traditions alive with the community coming together.

“It’s a day to reflect and relive a time where we used to celebrate in a traditional way,” he said.

The annual Cultural Night brings the best out of Latinos and others, Leandry said.

A parranda celebration is one that consists of Puerto Ricans going to different homes, unannounced, during the holiday season while they sing and perform traditional music, he said.

People who celebrate will go to homes of family and friends at any hour of the day and sing at their doorstep until they are invited in to celebrate together with food and music.

Leandry said a parranda is a traditional celebration that continues after Christmas until Three Kings Day on Jan. 6.

To keep the tradition going in Lorain, Leandry said he wanted to bring participants to one place to celebrate Puerto Rican culture together and don’t have to be outdoors.

Before coming to Sacred Heart, a parranda took place at El Centro in Lorain, but the event continued to grow, he said.

“Here we are four years later, and (the committee and community) look forward to it every year,” Leandry said. “It seems like it’s going to be a staple event in the community.”

Last year’s event was a big hit with over 300 guests, he said, and a larger turnout is expected this year.

Spots are still open in the coquito competition, but are filling up.

Rey Carrion, Jr., member of the committee, said they would like to have up to 15 contestants participate this year and share their coquito recipes.

Carrion said the first place winner will receive a cash prize of $100, a trophy and apron. The second-place winner will receive $75.

Last year’s contest had 11 participants competing against each other for the best coquito. Sonia Charles won the gold.

Previous winners were Brian Garcia in 2017 and Patience Garcia Colon in 2016.

Those looking to compete and challenge their coquito, can call Leandry at 440-309-8233 or Carrion at 440-787-1179 before the day of the event.

This year’s Cultural Night takes place from 7-10 p.m. and tickets will be sold at the door.

Admission is $10 per adult while children ages 12 and younger are free.

All proceeds will be donated to the Sacred Heart Chapel, Leandry said.