About Festival Latino

Liliana Ortiz-Bermudez and Doris Orellana founded the Festival in 1995; with the mission to promote understanding and appreciation of Latin American culture within the Berkshires and surrounding areas. The "Festival" was held for the first time under the sponsorship of Lee Youth Association and High Meadows Foundation. It was organized by members of the Latino Community of South County at the First Congregational Church. By creating and participating in the festival, the Latino Community was able for the first time to show its enthusiasm and its capability of social integration with the rest of the population. With the participation of local Latino families and young Latino students from BCC, the presentation of dance groups was organized, with beautiful traditional costumes made by Latino housewives. Sales of traditional Latino dishes from different regions were set up, and the culture of the various countries in Latin America was displayed. The Festival was well received by the community-at-large in its first implementation. Since 1996, it has been incorporated into the celebration of the Lee Founders Weekend, which has helped the Latino Community show its membership in the greater Berkshire Community. The support of Pastor Bert Marshal of the Lee First Congregational Church, along with other organizations and various local businesses, has been crucial in the development and success of the Festival Latino.

The Festival has been produced successfully every year since. It has a several components that all have to come together every September during Lee Founders Day. The festival begins with participation by the Latino community in the Founder’s Day Parade. We put together all of our floats, music, marchers in ethnic costumes, and dancing by Liliana’s troupe The Multicultural Youth Dancers and community volunteers. The afternoon festivities take place in the public park in Lee, Massachusetts. For six hours the festival presents free folkloric entertainment and, following the Festival, a party with paid admission at a local restaurant/bar featuring an evening of Latin dancing with live music provided by Latin bands from New York

2004 organizers

Founder Liliana Bermúdez

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