The annual Puerto Rican Day Parade marched through Manhattan on Sunday.
"My family invited us. We always come here every other year over here. This is actually where I met my fiancé over here, five years ago," one man said, looking along the parade route.
Fifth Avenue was red, white, and blue from 44th to 79th Streets for one of the city's biggest parades, with millions believed to have lined the route.
Paradegoers NY1 spoke with said they love to show off their Puerto Rican pride.
"I'm so happy to be here. It's my first time," one reveler said. "And also my birthday being tomorrow, I'm celebrating, I enjoy it."
"I'm Puerto Rican in my blood!" one young paradegoer said.
The celebration of Puerto Rican culture is now in its 60th year.
While Puerto Ricans celebrated on Fifth Avenue, Puerto Ricans in Puerto Rico went to the polls for a non-binding referendum on the island nation's political status, voting in favor of statehood.
The referendum offered three choices: statehood, independence, or maintaining the current status as a U.S. territory.
Several political parties on the island, including the main opposition party, boycotted the vote.
Puerto Rico is in the midst of a crippling economic crisis, with rising unemployment prompting many residents to leave for the United States.
This was the fifth time Puerto Rico has voted on statehood.
The U.S. Congress would have to approve the referendum results.