<P> The parade attracts many celebrities, both Puerto Rican and of Puerto Rican heritage, and many politicians from the Tri-State area . </P> <P> The parade marches along Fifth Avenue from 44th Street to 86th Street and has grown to become one of the largest parades in New York City, with nearly two million spectators annually making it one of the largest outdoor events in the United States . Although the largest Puerto Rican cultural parade is in New York City, other cities with large Puerto Rican populations also have notable Puerto Rican parades and festivals, such as Philadelphia, Chicago, and Boston . </P> <P> The first Puerto Rican Day Parade was held on Sunday, April 13, 1958, in Manhattan, replacing the former Hispanic Day Parade . This move, part of the mission of the Catholic Archdiocese of New York (esp., Cardinal Spellman and Ivan Illich) represented a shift away from earlier attempts at "Yankeefication" toward culturally specific expressions based on traditional fiestas patronales . In 1995, the parade became incorporated as the National Puerto Rican Day Parade and expanded beyond the parade venue itself . The parade now hosts over seven major events throughout the city . </P> <P> There are dozens of other events that also take place the weekend of the parade that are not sponsored by the National Parade's corporation . One of the longest running is the street fair held one day prior to the parade . Though the size has changed over the years the heart of the parade has always been at 116th Street between Lexington and Second Avenues . In addition to the parade in New York City, there are currently over fifty smaller parades that take place throughout the United States . </P>

When did the puerto rican day parade start