Introduction to La Parranda Boricua Pop-Up
HUMBOLDT PARK — La Parranda Boricua Pop-Up is Chicago’s first Puerto Rican Christmas-themed pop-up bar and event space — and it’s taking the Puerto Rican community dancing into the holidays.
The Concept and Creation
Tucked behind a beige curtain inside Le Lo Lai Gallery, 2716 W. Division St., La Parranda Boricua is a pop-up bar that’s had lines out the door for weeks, said Liana Lorenzo. Lorenzo and Maria Sánchez, who together own the company Lasting Memories Events, are the creators behind the pop-up, which opened Nov. 28 and runs through Jan. 3.
Bringing the Community Together
“Even on the coldest days and the most snowy, ugliest days, we would think that people weren’t coming, but we already had lines out the door,” Lorenzo said during a recent visit to the bar. “They want to see Benito and la casita.” Perhaps most notable — and what’s bringing most visitors — is a replica of la casita Bad Bunny featured on stage during his Puerto Rican residency this year, a new addition to the pop-up’s expansion. Other Bad Bunny items, like replicas of objects from album covers, are found around the bar.
The Tradition of Parranda
A parranda is a Puerto Rican tradition that takes place during the holiday season with food, music and dancing usually starting at someone’s home, similar to Christmas caroling. The Puerto Rican Cultural Center hosted its 19th annual Parranda at Paseo Boricua event this weekend in the neighborhood.
The Pop-Up Experience
La Parranda aims to bring the cultural island vibes to the cold streets of Humboldt Park. With Puerto Rican flags everywhere, fake palm trees, inflatable Christmas-themed coquís with Santa Claus and musicians, drums and wrapped gifts, the bar literally lights up. Even its ceiling is decorated with Christmas cheer, with ornaments, streamers, stars and boxes from Puerto Rican brands.
Liana Lorenzo (left) and Maria Sanchez (right) stand in front of holiday decorations at the Parranda Boricua pop-up Le Lo Lai Gallery in Humboldt Park on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. Credit: Jeremy Battle/Block Club Chicago
Honoring Puerto Rican Heritage
After launching the pop-up for one weekend in a nearby storefront in 2024, the group received dozens of messages asking for La Parranda’s return, Lorenzo said. This time around, there have been five weeks of events, programs and fun to be had at the bar and merch tables out front. Lorenzo, who grew up in Logan Square and now lives in Belmont Cragin, felt it was important to create a pop-up experience for her own community, she said. Sánchez is from Humboldt Park and now lives in suburban Bolingbrook.
Bringing Culture Alive
“You don’t really get this experience in the hood,” Lorenzo said. “I work a lot of events in River North and Wrigley, with all the pop-ups, so I think about how the underprivileged don’t get to experience that and or don’t feel welcome to that community, and it’s not as affordable. We wanted to create a space that brings our community and our culture alive — intermix the experience of La Isla with Chicago.”
Decorations and Ambiance
Puerto Rican holiday decorations and Bad Bunny merchandise hang from the ceiling of the La Parranda Boricua pop-up in Humboldt Park on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. Credit: Jeremy Battle/Block Club Chicago
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