EAST CHICAGO | The sounds and tastes of the Caribbean are spreading this weekend to the streets of East Chicago.

The Puerto Rico Parade and Cultural Organization of Northwest Indiana began its traditional festival Saturday, using Tod Park, 140th Street and Tod Avenue, to show off the food and music of the island named Puerto Rico, or Rich Port, by its Spanish explorers yet known as Boricua, or Land of the Noble Lord, by the Taino Indians who were native to the island.

The festival gave people a chance to taste dishes such as alcapurrio (a fritter-type dish stuffed with beef, chicken, crab or lobster) and bacalaitos (stuffed with cod), although there also were stands selling corn dogs, pizza slices and elephant ears.

Among the musical acts were the Grupo Flamboyan and the Orquesta Suave, although a public address system was set up to blare Spanish music such as Ecuadorian singer Gerardo's 1991 hit "Rico Suave" throughout the park during the entire event.

The Puerto Rican population accounted for about 2 percent of Lake County as of the 2000 Census. In East Chicago, Latinos accounted for 52 percent of the city and Puerto Ricans composed about 20 percent of the overall population.

This is the 29th year the cultural organization has had its two-day festival, which culminates in a parade that this year will be at noon today, running along Euclid Avenue from Broadway to 144th Street, then east to Parrish Avenue and winding up at Washington Park.

Many of the people who turned out for the festival Saturday said they intend to return to East Chicago today for the parade and entertainment, including Puerto Rican singer Mannix Martinez and the Valparaiso-based group My Brothers Salsa Band.

The mood Saturday was relatively mellow, with people enjoying food and music, although the police presence included officers from the East Chicago police and Lake County sheriff's departments, along with some private security hired by the city parks department.