Festival Betances 2008

View Images from last year's Festival

FESTIVAL BETANCES 2008 - July 18-20

Location: The Villa Victoria community of Boston’s South End
Plaza Betances @ 100 W Dedham Street           

Celebrating its 35th year of existence, Festival Betances is the oldest Latino community arts festival in New England.  Produced through a collaboration between the dynamic community building agency Inquilinos Boricuas en Accion (IBA), our Casa de la Cultura/Center for Latino Arts and the residents of Villa Victoria, this festival celebrates Puerto Rican and Latino arts and culture, the founding fathers of Villa Victoria and the memory of Puerto Rican patriot Dr. Ramón Emeterio Betances.  Featuring an array of activities including artistic performances, youth and family events, traditional foods, handcrafts and vendors, Festival Betances has become an icon of Latino culture in the city of Boston and the region.  Attracting an average of 5,000 people per year, this community festival is a wonderful opportunity for Latinos to celebrate their heritage and for non-Latinos to experience the sights, sounds and tastes of Puerto Rican and Latino culture.

Schedule of Activities

FRIDAY JULY 18
Family Day/Procession

Noche de Bohemia (Music of the “Old Guard”)
6:30 pm                 Manguito (Old School Salsa)   
7:30 pm                 Special Artist TBA                                               

Performances end at 9:00 pm

SATURDAY JULY 19
WHAT IS FESTIVAL BETANCES' YOUTH DAY?
Youth Day is an afternoon of activities planned for and by the youth of the South End/Lower Roxbury community and Staff of the IBA-Cacique Youth Learning Center. Activities include basketball tournaments, face painting, live performances, and games. There will be special educational and recreational presentations by local museums and youth organizations.

YOUTH DAY SCHEDULE: 12-3:30 PM
10-1: Basketball Tournament: 3 on 3 Tournament, Children’s Activities, Family Picnic, Live Animals/Pony Rides, Prizes, Climbing Wall

1:30-3:30: Youth Cultural Performances (Musicians, Singers, Dancers, Actors, and Rappers)

International Day
3:00 pm                 Berklee Latin Jazz All-Stars (Latin Jazz)
3:45 pm                 Samba Tremeterra (Brazilian Percussion Ensemble)       
4:15 pm                 Peru Mestizo (Peruvian Music & Dance)                       
5:00 pm                 Xuchipilli (Mexican Dance)
5:15 pm                 Achuira y Gregorio Uribe (Colombian Music)
6:00 pm                 Ritmos Academy (Latin American dance)                      
6:15 pm                 Venezuelan Act (TBA)                       
7:15 pm                 United Roots (Breakdance)               
7:30 pm                 Moncho Rivera (Salsa MegaStar)                        

Performances end at 9:00 pm

SUNDAY JULY 20
Puerto Rican Heritage Day
2:30 pm                 Youth Talent Showcase
3:30 pm                 Jibaro Encounter (Puerto Rican Folk)                                      
4:15 pm                 VillaBomba (Puerto Rican Bomba)                                          
4:30 pm                 Grupo Sazón (Salsa)                                            
5:15 pm                 Esencia (Dance)   
5:30 pm                 La Bruja (Spoken Word/Reggaeton)                                                   
6:15 pm                 Fuerza Internacional(Dance)                         

6:30 pm                 Ismael Miranda (Salsa MegaStar)