Thousands are expected to celebrate Puerto Rican culture this weekend as festivities ramp up ahead of Sunday’s National Puerto Rican Day Parade in Manhattan.

Across the Bronx, Puerto Rican flags are already hanging from storefronts, music is filling the streets, and local businesses are preparing for one of the busiest weekends of the year.

“I’m ready to celebrate my pride,” one Bronx resident said.

Saturday’s celebrations will feature live music, dancing, food vendors and cultural events — all building up to Sunday’s parade along Fifth Avenue.

For many in the Bronx, the weekend is about much more than a party.

Small businesses are also preparing for an influx of visitors. Taino Mayor Studios, a longtime Bronx staple that has served the community for more than 45 years, says the annual celebration brings familiar faces back year after year.

“The Puerto Ricans who come over here every year is like my family,” said Wanda Rentas, the store's owner. “Everybody comes every year… and they always give us a very, very good welcome over here in the Bronx.”

The Bronx is home to one of the largest Puerto Rican communities in the country, making the celebration especially meaningful for residents who say the weekend represents culture, family and pride.