Festival Betances Celebrates 52 Years of Latino Culture in Boston

Thousands gathered in the South End's Plaza Betances on July 19 for the 52nd annual Festival Betances, New England's longest-running Latino cultural festival hosted by Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción (IBA).

This year's celebration featured performances by salsa legend Bobby Valentín "El Rey Del Bajo," Afro-Caribbean group Jorge Arca and Raíz de Plena, and Orquesta El Macabeo, among others. Singer Lorna Marcano paid special tribute to Celia Cruz, the "Queen of Salsa."

Mayor Michelle Wu joined IBA CEO Vanessa Calderón-Rosado to welcome attendees to the day-long event, which showcased Latino music, food, and traditions under the theme "Our Music, Our History, Our Community."

"Festival Betances is a treasured annual event that brings together residents and families to celebrate our vibrant Latino community," Wu said, praising IBA's five decades of work providing affordable housing and community programming.

The festival featured a colorful parade, food trucks serving traditional Caribbean and South American cuisine, and family activities including arts and crafts and face painting. Local officials attending included State Representative John Moran and several Boston City Councilors.

Founded in 1968, IBA serves more than 5,000 individuals annually through affordable housing, early education, youth programs, and arts initiatives. The festival represents the organization's flagship cultural event, complementing year-round programming that includes the Tito Puente Latin Music Series and gallery exhibitions.

The celebration drew attendees from across Massachusetts and beyond, reinforcing its role as a cornerstone of Boston's cultural calendar and a vital expression of the city's Latino heritage.