Fanny Villarreal, one of the founders of Festival Latinoamericano Syracuse is working to revive the event to again be one of the most attended festivals in Syracuse. 

On Aug. 3, community members can gather in Clinton Square to celebrate Latin American culture. The Festival Latinoamericano Syracuse, which will be held from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m., will feature Latin American food and music, as well as sports competitions and arts and crafts vendors.

Villarreal said she aims to preserve the festival’s original mission of educating community members about Latin American culture, as well as celebrating it.

The festival’s performance lineup includes both local performers and performers based in other parts of the world. Charlie Cruz, a Puerto Rican salsa singer, will be the main performer at the festival. Other performers at the festival include Tony Rivas, a singer from the Dominican Republic, as well as local singers and Latin American dance groups. 

Villarreal, the organizer of the festival and one of its original founders, said that the festival aims to educate the community about Latin American culture.

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Not only does the festival strive to educate the community about Latin American culture, Villarreal said it also provides a scholarship to aid a high school senior in continuing their education. The Aurelia Crespo & Carlos Lavezarri Scholarship is given to one Latino high school senior from Onondaga County every year. 

“This year for the very first time, we’re going to give the scholarship during the festival time so everybody knows that it’s not only a party, per se, but it’s a way to make sure that our youth get the benefits of this scholarship and get educated,” Villarreal said. “Because the key to success is education.”

Hugo Acosta, the founder, owner and publisher of the CNY Latino newspaper, helps run the festival. He said that both he and the CNY Latino Media Consortium have been involved with the festival since CNY Latino’s founding in 2004. 

Acosta said that the festival gives community members a chance to learn about Latin American culture firsthand.

“It’s also an opportunity for visitors to learn and know more about this particular culture—not just the food, not just the music, not just the art—but also the people that are part of the American society,” Acosta said.

Ofelia Anamaria, another one of the festival’s original founders, said she remembers the festival’s early days and has watched the festival grow over the years.

Anamaria said that the first festival was small, consisting of a volleyball game and hot dogs, hamburgers and soda for sale. She recalls being thrilled upon finding out that they made $250 from that first festival. Over the years, the festival grew and was one of the most attended festivals in Syracuse for a few years, according to the festival’s website. 

The festival has had a few hiatuses and has not been held every year. But Anamaria said that she has high expectations for the festival’s future years. 

In the past, La Joven Guardia Latino, a youth theater group founded by José Miguel Hernández has performed at the festival. Previous festivals have also included sports tournaments and domino competitions. 

Admission to the festival is free, and people of all ages are welcome to attend, Anamaria said. 

“This is a family-oriented festival,” Anamaria said. “So we want to invite parents, uncles, grandpas, children, everyone — everyone in the community.”

The founders and organizers of the Festival Latinoamericano Syracuse said they view the event as a way to share their pride in their culture with all members of the community.

“We have all these different people that came from all different backgrounds, of different cultures, of different parts of the world,” Villarreal said. “And I think, here, we have to celebrate that.”

Published on July 1, 2019 at 11:15 pm

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