Note: A Spanish-language version of this article by this writer can be found here.
PAWTUCKET — This Saturday, June 20, people will gather at Festival Pier to celebrate the Latino Summerfest. The festival will include traditional dancing, live music, DJ performances, activities for kids, cultural exhibitions, and foods from across Latin America.
The festival began eight years ago as the Colombian Summerfest, a yearly event honoring Colombian culture. Last year, Yoselin Borrero Borda, a Colombian immigrant who arrived in the U.S. 10 years ago, reimagined the event to include the entire Latino community.
“I have had the opportunity to connect with people from many Latin American countries and understand that, although our cultures are unique, we share values, traditions, and experiences that unite us,” she told The Local Insider. “My main motivation is to create spaces where our community can feel represented, proud, and connected.”
This year’s Latino Summerfest was inspired by the 2026 World Cup, which is currently taking place in several states in the US, including in New England. Borrero Borda described the World Cup as “one of the biggest passions shared by the Latino community.”
According to Borrero Borda, more than 50 vendors, artists, organizations, and community leaders will sponsor and participate in the event. Attendees will be able to try different cuisines, including sweet and spicy fruit cups, flavored lemonades, and street foods from Colombia, Mexico, and Venezuela. Additionally, dozens of Latin-owned small businesses will sell beauty products, clothing, and artisanal handicrafts.
“We believe in the power of Latino entrepreneurship to transform lives and strengthen our community,” said Marjorie Alvarado, a Venezuelan immigrant and businesswoman who directs Marjorie Beauty Studio, a participating vendor.
Proprietors of Limon-O-Nada, a Latino-owned shop in Rhode Island selling Hispanic-inspired lemonades, said, “It was at this event that we were able to essentially launch our business to a larger crowd who valued not just our drinks, but their roots.”
This positive impact on the local economy is precisely why Tatiana Baena, at-large member of the Central Falls City Council, says she supports the festival.
“These events play an important role economically and socially – they bring visibility to small businesses, nonprofits, artists, and community initiatives while creating moments of joy and belonging,” she said.
In addition to eating and shopping, attendees will enjoy performances of flamenco, Colombian and Mexican folk dance, and DJ sets from Peruvian and Dominican artists.
Mariana Paes, the director of Flamenco Rhode Island, said she chose to participate because “flamenco is all about community, resistance and collective joy … Our Latinx community needs to be together, support one another and share resources, especially in times of such division and fear.”
Many participants emphasized the importance of unity. Margaret Brassard, one of the event’s hosts and the founder of the nonprofit RI Acts of Kindness, said she is “proud to support events that bring people together and celebrate the rich diversity that makes Rhode Island so special.” Likewise, Central Falls City Councilor Alberto Rivas called Latino Summerfest a “wonderful opportunity to celebrate our culture, bring families together, support local businesses, and showcase the richness and diversity of our community.”
Borrero Borda fondly remembers the sense of togetherness from last year’s Summerfest. She recalled seeing different Latin American flags waving together while people danced. “It’s a reminder that, although we come from different places, we share a vibrant culture and a strong community,” she wrote.
Though the festival honors shared heritage, many organizations are proud to represent their own countries, too.
“Every time we gather as a community, we spark a sense of belonging and joy that lifts everyone up,” wrote Tiana Ochoa, Board President of the Guatemalan Center of New England. “Returning to Latino Summer Fest for a second year demonstrates our commitment to sharing Guatemalan culture and making meaningful connections with our Latino neighbors. Last year taught us that the more we celebrate our unique traditions together, the brighter and stronger our future becomes. We invite everyone to visit, experience, and participate in the festivities that make our community so vibrant and alive.”
Latino Summerfest will start at 2 p.m. Saturday at Festival Pier, 21 Tim Healey Way, Pawtucket.
