PALM BAY, Fla. — Organizers with United Third Bridge in Palm Bay have put off the Puerto Rican Pride Parade for a second consecutive year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, they announced Tuesday.

What You Need To Know

  • Puerto Rican Pride Parade in Palm Bay has been put off for a second year 

  • Organizers cited health concerns because of the COVID pandemic

  • School officials said children's participation could have been limited, too 

  • If the pandemic eases, the parade may be held at the end of the year or early 2022

The parade, which usually is an annual celebration, would have been the first without its founder, Sam Lopez, who passed away in January. Organizers had planned to honor Lopez’s life during the parade, which had been scheduled for October.

Organizers were concerned the parade could become a super-spreader event, according to Samantha Nazario, who is a member of nonprofit United Third Bridge that helps organize the parade. Also, Brevard County Public Schools indicated it wasn't sure children should participate in the parade for health and safety reasons, Nazario said.

“So, we wouldn’t be able to have the participation that we would normally engage in from the school (and) 75% of our parade is the kids," Nazario said.

The children were the entire reason Lopez even started the parade. 

“(Without the children), it wouldn’t be Sam’s parade," Nazario said. "Sam’s legacy is the children and is what he brought to the children and how he changed history.”

If the number of coronavirus cases improve, and if it’s safe to do so, then organizers will look at hosting the parade later this year or the start of next year.