‘It’s the economy’: Milwaukee's Puerto Rican Festival and Parade facing funding issues
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee's Fiesta Puerto Rican Festival and Parade is scheduled for Sunday, June 7.
“Throughout the years, it’s taken on different shapes and different forms,” Organizer Victor Huyke said. “It’s a sense of our heritage, our culture, and that’s what we’re trying to bring to Milwaukee.”
This year, the festival is dealing with a lack of funding thanks to less involvement from usual sponsors.
“It’s the economy, a lot of our sponsors have kinda checked back their donations,” Huyke said. “The sponsorship is pretty much 75% of the festival.”
Huyke says the park and security are already covered, but that’s just the beginning of what is needed for the festival.
“Dumpsters have increased in price, bathrooms, security, cleanup crews, lighting, stage, etc.,” Huyke said. “If we don’t reach our goal as far as the finances go, then we obviously will have to scale back dramatically.”
The festival and parade will stay in place no matter what, but the event could look different if funding does not work out.
The festival has a GoFundMe; to see it, click here.