Picnic Celebration in Illinois Forest Preserves. Chicago, Illinois (1971)

During the summer days in the early 1970’s, Chicago's Puerto Ricans civic, social, and religious community organizations would organize picnics in the nearby Illinois Forest Preserves. Thousands of Puerto Ricans would attend these weekend events that feature live entertainment, dancing, games, food and beverages. This image was captured in the summer of 1971, and displays the Chicago Banda de Acero (Chicago’s Steel Drum Band), entertaining those in attendance at the Thatcher Wood Forest Preserves, located in the outskirts of Chicago, at Milwaukee & Devon. Chicago, Illinois (1971)