Freehold Borough will host 11th annual Latino Festival

By P.J. CANDIDO
Staff Writer

Latin American culture will be on display for all residents of Monmouth County to enjoy on Oct. 3 when the Latino Festival of Monmouth County celebrates its 11th anniversary.

The rain date is Oct 4.

The Latino Festival coincides with Hispanic Heritage Month which runs from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15. The festival will take place in the Monmouth County Hall of Records Annex parking lot, Main Street, Freehold. Admission and parking are free.

Lazaro Cardenas, 47, of Freehold Township, said one of the goals of the festival is to bring knowledge of the different cultures of Latin America to the people of Monmouth County.

“We try to use the day to gather people to have fun and to get to know their neighbors and who the people around them are,” he said. “And also to show the positive things the many cultures of Latin America bring.” Cardenas previously chaired the festival and is now in charge of fundraising for the event. The Latino Festival will begin at noon and run until the early evening.

“The festival bridges everyone in the community together,” he said. “Everyone likes to eat, have fun, listen to music and dance.”

Julia Lopez, a co-chair of the Latino Festival, said the Latin American culture is beautifully portrayed every year at the event.

“The different kinds of music, foods and people connect everyone who decides to come,” she said. “It is a great day filled with an amazing display of the Latin culture for everyone to enjoy.”

Cardenas said the festival will offer great entertainment and a variety of Latin foods for the estimated 5,000-plus guests.

Organizers said there will be entertainment, information booths, games, inflatable rides, face painting and a dance contest. Music performances and live entertainment are expected from Aliados De San Juan, Emily Polonia, Costa Oaxaca, Marel & Friends, Veronica Kole, and more.

The festival is produced in partnership with the Latino Coalition Foundation of New Jersey. Sponsors of the event include the Monmouth County Arts Council, PNC Bank, Leschak and Associates and the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders.

In recalling the founding of the festival, Cardenas said, “Our organization said, ‘Look, Latinos have a lot to offer.’ We tried to show the community the arts, the music, the culture and the family values of Latin American culture. The festival is not simply for Latinos. In fact, the opposite is true. We would like to connect everyone in the community by (having them) come and enjoy the day rather than making it an all- Latino festival.”