4th Annual Akron Latin Festival Brings 4,000+ Visitors to Downtown Akron

On Saturday, October 5, Cascade Plaza was decked with paper flowers, colorful streamers, national flags, papel picado, and multilingual banners in honor of the Akron Latin Festival, a celebration of Latin and Hispanic cultures, and of Hispanic Heritage Month. This year’s celebration was the fourth ever, and the second in downtown Akron jointly presented by Proyecto RAICES and Downtown Akron Partnership (DAP). An estimated 4,000+ visitors of all ages filled the plaza, as well as Main Street between Mill and Bowery.

DJ Coraly started the festivities around 4 pm, spinning tunes while Cleveland Rueda led a loose dance class on the dance floor in front of the stage on the northwest side of the plaza. That was followed by a vibrant folk-dance performance by Azteca Guadalupano, remarks from DAP and Proyecto RAICES in both English and Spanish, and a musical set by Herencia Norteña. As the evening went on, America Latina gave a performance, followed by Luka y su Ropa Vieja, and headlining the evening, the incredible Grupo Fuego, who received a Cleveland Music Award for Best Latin Band this year.

The plaza was filled for the entire duration of the day, and there was much available for visitors to experience. Folks sampled cuisine with origins in countries throughout Latin America, like pupusas, homemade churros, tacos, Mexican street corn, Salvadoran and Venezuelan specialties, empanadas, fresh fruit, and more.

14 retail vendors set up on the plaza, selling items like beautiful handmade textiles, wood crafts, organic body care, sizzling hot sauce, Hispanic jewelry, and concentrated Caribbean marinades. Local organizations including UA Latinos, Axess Family Services, Akron Minority Business Association, El Centro de Servicios Sociales, the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, Project LEARN of Summit County, C.Ash Group Life Insurance, Main Preparatory Academy, Akron Children’s Hospital, the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office, and Orchard Park Academy Akron shared information and resources with event visitors. Proyecto RAICES provided education about the work of their organization and el Día de Los Muertos.

An activity zone on the north side of the plaza featured free attractions that included a photobooth, two crafts, face painting, and piñatas for kids to break every hour. There was also a live community mural activity facilitated and designed by Northeast Ohio artist Alicia Vasquez. One half of the completed mural, consisting of two four-foot square panels that together form one image, will be displayed in the offices of Proyecto RAICES; the other will be hung at the Akron-Canton airport.

Folks let loose on the dance floor to the sounds of live music well into the evening. Children played soccer on a grassy slope on the Main Street level of the plaza. At the Shed, margaritas, draft beer, and other refreshments were available for purchase. Stilt walkers and a magician roamed the plaza and interacted with the crowd.

We are grateful that Proyecto RAICES once again trusted us to help plan and execute an authentic celebration of Latin and Hispanic cultures in downtown Akron. This iteration of the Akron Latin Festival was a heartwarming, joyful celebration, and we look forward to witnessing and embracing its continued evolution.

The 4^th Annual Akron Latin Festival was presented by Downtown Akron Partnership and Proyecto Raices CLA, with support from Goodyear's HOLA Employee Resource Group, Great Work Employment, the Summit County Prosecutor's Office, Zips Activity Board, Akron Community Foundation, Ohio Arts Council, Knight Foundation, GAR Foundation and the City of Akron.