Kicking off at 1 p.m. from South Duke and Chesapeake streets, the parade will consist of 55 entrants, including school groups and businesses, as well as a large contingent of people from Puerto Rico, including three mayors, newly arrived just for today's event.

Lancaster Mayor Rick Gray will be present, accompanied by York Mayor John S. Brenner and Reading Mayor Tom McMahon.

Today's parade also will mark the debut of the festival's Teen Queen. Seven young ladies competed for the title, which Melanie Iris Fragosa, a 17-year-old McCaskey High School senior, won.

Creating a Teen Queen pageant seemed to be a natural fit for this year's festival, spokesman Angel Suliveras said.

"The theme of the festival this year is 'Our youth, our positive future,' " he said. "So (the pageant) seemed a good thing."

Melanie will ride in the parade, along with first runner-up and Teen Princess Ashley Sierra, also 17 and a McCaskey senior, and Jennifer Soto, Jennifer Martinez and Maria Cristina Brabham, the second, third and fourth runners-up, respectively.

Prior to the parade, at 12:25 p.m., there will be a rally that will feature Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell.

Grand Marshal for this year's parade will be Carter and MacRae Elementary School teacher Juan Rodriguez.

"It will be a great event, and the weather will be perfect," Suliveras said.

After the parade, the festival will continue at Binns Park until 9 p.m. It is open to the public.