Latino festival to take place in Freehold

FREEHOLD - Residents and guests are welcome to attend the second annual Latino Festival to be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 19 at the Park Avenue Elementary School, Park Avenue between West Main and South streets.

Festival chairman Laz Cardenas said, "The Latino community is becoming more and more important to the town and the festival is a way of sharing this and getting long-time residents together with the town's new residents. We want to bring people of all backgrounds together to celebrate the richness of Latino culture."

He said the success of the festival last year was evident in the joining together of longtime residents and newer Latino residents, "having fun, eating food and dancing."

"Last year we attracted between 600 and 700 people," Cardenas said. "We hope to build on that success. It was built on a close partnership with the Freehold Borough School District and we look forward to working with school officials again to make the festival even better."

Cardenas, of Freehold Township, is a member of the Latino Leadership Alliance of New Jersey and a commissioner of the Freehold Housing Authority.

A dance contest is planned for 3 p.m. and there will also be musical performances and a Latino film festival held during the event.

According to Cardenas, Los Latinos, a dance troupe of Freehold High School students, will once again participate.

Other scheduled entertainers include a classical Spanish guitarist, a Mexican dance troupe, Flamenco dancers, several poets, and Alvare, a Latino rapper. Entertainment will be coordinated by D.J. Lady C, also known as Cuqui Rivera.

Freehold artist Kortez will supervise a live performance art demonstration in which a large canvas will be painted during the festival.

Food will be available during the festival.