News

Festival Betances This Saturday

by Submitted by IBA
Friday Jul 16, 2021

This article is from the July 15, 2021 issue of South End News.


Yuba Iré
Yuba Iré  

Keeping alive a tradition that drew an astounding 50,000 attendees virtually last year, on Saturday, July 17, 2021 at 7:00pm, Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción (IBA) will be holding Festival Betances, New England's longest-running Latino cultural celebration, virtually on Facebook and YouTube.
Festival Betances is the longest-running Latino cultural celebration in New England.
Each year, Festival Betances is an opportunity for individuals and families to come together and immerse themselves in the vibrancy and diversity of Latin culture. While the Festival will remain virtual again this year, the tradition carries on as IBA's community unites to celebrate Puerto Rican arts and culture.
This year's Festival, themed "Latinos Siempre Unidos" (Latinos Always Together), will continue to reach a wide audience, as people from across the Puerto Rican diaspora can tune in virtually to build community and celebrate to the music of Yuba Iré and Oscarito.
Festival Betances has become a staple in New England's Latinx community. Its stage has featured world-renowned musical and dance performances, ranging from local and regional acts to international Latin music icons, including Larry Harlow from Fania All Stars, Tony Vega, and Tito Rojas.
Things are getting back on track, so let's celebrate together with one voice. With the theme "Latinos Siempre Unidos" (Latinos Always Together), Festival Betances 2021 "en Casa" will light up your house on July 17th at 7pm with performances by Yuba Iré and Oscarito. These amazing artists, representing Latinx talent, will make everyone stand up and dance to the rhythms of bomba, plena and merengue.
Surrender to the party vibes of Yuba Iré, who will kick off the Festival. With the sounds and percussions of their "rumba criollizada," they will get you going like "ya tú sabes"!
Closing with a bang comes Oscar Serrano — "Oscarito El Más Loco" (the craziest one) — one of our most beloved merengue stars. After being in Grupo Manía, now, as a solo artist, nobody can stop him. Oscarito will deliver what will surely be a great time for all.
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.
More information at www.ibaboston.org, Facebook @festivalbetances.