When Maritza Castillo first floated the idea of a Panamanian folkloric parade in Texas, she expected maybe a few dozen interested families. Instead, her social media post exploded with thousands of responses from Panamanians across the United States. “I realized we had been waiting for something like this our whole lives,” Castillo said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n‘The response showed me that our community has been hungry to showcase our heritage in a visible, public way’ [Translated from Spanish]<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
That dream is now becoming reality. For the first time in American history, Dallas Texas<\/strong><\/a> will host the Gran Desfile de las 100 Polleras & Montuno in 2026. The event promises to transform the city’s streets into a living museum of Panamanian culture, featuring the iconic Pollera dress<\/a> alongside traditional Montuno attire for men.<\/p>\n\n\n\n