Covid-Safe Annual Puerto Rican Fest Features Salsa, Tostones, & Vaccines

Natasha and Naomy Velez flew across the stage, shaking their white skirts to the rhythmic beat of a barriles drum. The twin sisters were performing the Bomba — a traditional dance from Puerto Rico — in front of more than 100 people Saturday in Criscuolo Park.

The Velez sisters are members of Movimiento Cultural, one of three music and dance groups invited to perform at ​“Music in the Parque,” — this year’s annual Puerto Rican Festival.

Saturday’s festival featured cultural performances, Latin American food trucks, and a vaccination clinic from Griffin Health.

The Velez sisters have been dancing with Movimiento Cultural for 3 years, and dancing period since they were 6 years old. For them, the Puerto Rican Festival was a way to both celebrate their culture and inspire others to get vaccinated.

“Aside from dancing, we’re both medical assistants,” said Natasha Velez. ​“I want Bomba to inspire the people of the Latin community to come and get vaccinated.”

They certainly inspired Marangely Flores, who came to watch the performance with her daughter Mia. Flores said that she would love to join a dance crew like Moviemento Cultural.

“I’m thinking about getting vaccinated today,” said Flores. ​“Since I have a daughter, I want to get vaccinated so that she doesn’t get sick.”

Flores said that another motivation for getting vaccinated at the event was the raffle for tickets to a concert by Latin music artist Marc Anthony. All attendees who got vaccinated at the Griffin Health clinic right beside the park would get a raffle ticket.

According to Griffin Health employee Grace Garde, who was running the vaccine clinic, seven people were vaccinated at the festival. The clinic offered vaccines between 2 and 4 p.m.

“Many of the people who got vaccinated today came because they are scared of the Delta variant,” explained Garde. ​“At a lot of the clinics, minorities often think they’re not welcome to get vaccinated so we have to tell them that they are welcome here.”

City Public Health Director Maritza Bond made a brief speech at the event encouraging people to get vaccinated.

“The Latin community has been negatively impacted by the virus at higher rates,” said Bond. ​“We want to makes sure that as we’re celebrating our culture, we’re also celebrating life and access to vaccines.”

The festival was hosted by Puerto Ricans United. This year’s festivities were slightly smaller than previous years due to Covid-19 restrictions. Typically, the Puerto Rican Festival would take place on the New Haven Green and would draw thousands.

“It’s going to be much smaller than usual, but I think people can still enjoy the music and food,” said Puerto Ricans United Treasurer Frank Alvarado.

Angel Laureano, who came to the festival for the first time this year, said that he actually prefers the festivities taking place in Criscuolo Park. While sipping on a cool drink near the food trucks, Laureano noted that there is far more room in Criscuolo for parking and space for the children to play in the park’s splash pads.

“Just look at this! The kids are playing, this guy is walking his dog outside, and people are finally out of the house breathing the fresh air!” said Laureano.

Food trucks from Antojos Criollos and Bebo’s BBQ served up empanadas, tostones, and pollo frito to the crowd. Meanwhile, onlookers gathered by the stage to dance to salsa music played by DJ Richie Rich.

“You know what’s good about Latinos?” Rich called out to the crowd. ​“We don’t need 10,000 people to party. We party no matter what!”

On the other side of Criscuolo Park, members of Bregamos Community Theater in Fair Haven encouraged people to dance to Rumba music played on conga drums. Raphael Ramos, the founder and president, said that Bregamos has always come to participate in the Puerto Rican Festival in some capacity. Two years ago, they painted murals for the event.

“Puerto Rico is our livelihood and our heartbeat,” said Ramos. ​“I hope people come to the event and feel the spirit of unity — and also get info on where they can be vaccinated.”