Festival Betances

Latinas En Foco/ Latinas In Focus

July 20th and 21st, 2019

Villa Victoria Community

100 W. Dedham St., South End

New England’s longest-running Latino Cultural Celebration!

What is Festival Betances?

Festival Betances has become a staple in New England’s Latino community. Every year it draws a 3,000 person multi-cultural audience. Through the years, Betances’ stage has seen multiple musical and dance performances, ranging from local and regional acts to international Latin music icons such as Larry Harlow from Fania All Stars, Tony Vega, and Tito Rojas.

The Festival is named after Ramón Emeterio Betances, a Puerto Rican patriot whose medical contributions benefited Latin America, the Caribbean, and the United States. He also became a leader in awakening national consciousness in Puerto Rico, and is considered one of the foremost intellectuals of the 19th century. There is a plaza and a mural dedicated to him where the festival is held.

This family-friendly weekend includes: a parade, traditional cuisine, arts and crafts, a greased pole competition, children’s activities like face painting and inflatables, and other treats that highlight the diversity of Latino culture.