Great Barrington — Every year, from September 15 to October 15, National Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the contributions of Hispanic Americans to culture and society. Twenty-seven years ago, as part of National Hispanic Heritage Month, Liliana Ortiz-Bermudez founded Festival Latino of the Berkshires.
The nonprofit organization promotes and celebrates Hispanic heritage in Berkshire County and for years has held a celebration in downtown Great Barrington. This year’s Festival Latino event was held in downtown Great Barrington on Saturday, September 30.
The all-day event included dance performances, music, and a vendor fair at the Grover’s Corner Gazebo, right behind Town Hall.
At the gazebo, performances included dance group Ecuatorianos Pa’l Mundo from Pittsfield, musicians Luis Panche and Daniela Pignatelli, Alessandra Gonzalez, Duo Candela, and DJ Bernardino Aguilar.
The outdoor portion of the event also included a parade celebrating Latin American countries.
The outdoor part of the event also included multiple food vendors serving up traditional Hispanic food from various countries.
Over at Saint James Place, multiple dance performances were held, featuring Ecuadorian dance group Ayazamana, Colombian dance group Racies, along with professional Flamenco performances featuring dancers Xianix Barrera and Joanne Magdalena and musicians Afsonso Cid and Adrian Alvarado.
At the end of the night, mariachi band Emperadores de Puebla performed at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center.
“It’s important that we teach the new generations about our Hispanic heritage,” Ortiz-Bermudez told The Berkshire Edge. “Everything that we have, including our history, culture, music, and cuisines, it’s important to keep our history going. When people see diversity in their culture, they have respect for it. It’s very important for people to learn and understand culture.”
“The main mission of this organization is to show what our culture has brought to the Berkshires,” organization President Angela Palmer said. “My parents are immigrants, and I was born in the Berkshires. A lot of people that are living here in Berkshire County are from Latin American countries. I think that they bring strong and loyal family values, along with a deep sense of community.”
“This festival represents everything: Our culture, our life, and our love,” said event Master of Ceremonies Angelica Velasquez. “This festival allows us to bring some of our heritage back to the Berkshires. For me, it’s a great reminder of who I am and my heritage. I hope that, for everyone who attends, they get to see the beauty of our culture and the fact that it thrives here in Berkshire County.”
Palmer added that the organization is in need of more volunteers in order to keep its mission and the festival going. For more information about Festival Latino of the Berkshires, visit its website.
