The 116th Street Festival 2021 street fair is a broadcast show this year on cable and livestreams on Saturday, July 17, 2021 from 7-9pm. 116thstfestival.com
116th Street Festival 2021
The Festival is the biggest Latin festival in the Northeast. It’s normally held on the second Saturday of June on the night before the National Puerto Day Parade. But NYC opened rather suddenly in May and it’s still too early in the pandemic to prepare a major in person event, so we are celebrating a little later with a two-hour broadcast and live stream experience.
According to the producers, it will feature iconic and emerging Latin music artists, celebrity co-hosts, a fashion show, mixology segments, Latino culinary recipes, special historical segments of the beginnings of salsa in New York and other creative surprises.
Danny Trejo, Victor Cruz and Agatha host the show. Invited artists include Richie Ray, Agatha, Magdeline Benitez, Beatboi, Angie Rose, Elysaynij, Chrissy I-Eece, The Latin Legends, Solo Fernand, Kano Keys, Danny Rivera (Jr.) Julito Alvarez, Eli Jaz, Juancky La Diferencia, Soleil, Jacob Velazquez, Elysanu and more.
The Festival is working to raise awareness for the Ad Council’s “De TiDepende” COVID-19 Vaccination initiative spanish.getvaccineanswers.org
We are only in the middle of the pandemic. It’s coming for everyone who isn’t vaccinated. Yes there are some risks, but they are very small compared to the risk of the disease. Now unvaccinated young people are getting sick and about one in three end up with long-term health issues. We and our entire families got vaccinated without any problems. Please do it for yourself, your family, friends and community. Here is nyc.gov information in multiple languages.
Pandemic or not, we are celebrating our culture. Let’s celebrate together. You can watch on Spectrum Noticias 1 Channel 95 and Channel 194 in the Bronx, bronxnet.org and Mega TV in Puerto Rico. It’s livestreaming on Facebook pages of La Mega 97.9 @mega979nyc
July in Puerto Rico and New York City
Instead of June, the 116th Street Festival is in July this year and July is a really important month in Puerto Rico.
July 25 is Puerto Rico Constitution Day, which celebrates the first Puerto Rican Constitution of 1954. It’s a positive takeover of the day in 1898 when the United States invaded the island at what is now Guánica (near Ponce in the southwest).
It’s also the day of the St. James Festival. The important municipality of Loíza celebrates Las Fiestas de Santiago Apóstol. It’s one of Puerto Rico’s most beautiful patron saint festivals. Loíza is one of the cultural centers of bomba Puertorriquena. It’s the home of the Ayalas, one of bomba’s leading families. In Loíza, we prepare all month for this.
We couldn’t celebrate during New York Puerto Rico Week like we usually do, but we can celebrate now. We always have something to celebrate. See you at the 116th Street Festival 2021! ¡WEPA!