Yo Soy Boricua!”: Puerto Rico Festival Keeps Hearts Beating On The Green

New Haven became an island on Saturday, but no man was left standing alone.

The call of Yo soy boricua!” – I am Puerto Rican! — and the sounds of bachata, reggaeton, and merengue vibrated from the Green as hundreds gathered for New Haven’s annual Puerto Rican festival hosted by Puerto Ricans United (PRU).

The vibrancy of the day reflected that of the culture it honored, and of the people. This year, the festival’s theme was the Puerto Rican woman.” The goal was to honor her strength, resilience, passion, and love for family and community. We’re going to showcase the diversity of our women,” said PRU board President Joseph Rodriguez.

Christian la voz de Oro performing Bachata music.

The event brought the spellbinding Isla Del Encanto” to the Elm City with twelve food trucks, eight musical artists, and two dozen businesses and nonprofits.

This year was the first time PRU hosted a job fair in conjunction with the festival, allowing members of the community to network and gain valuable employment information throughout the day.

Carmen M. Burgos, who works with The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven’s Progressive Latino Fund, shared her perspective on the theme for this year’s festival.

Pointing to the festival’s poster behind the center stage, Burgos noted three distinct women within the design. The middle represents the “‘Taíno’ or Indian woman from the island”, the far left the Europeans” who came and colonized Puerto Rico, and the far right the African slaves.

The artwork was done by David Sepulveda and Amie Ziner.

Las Nenas del Mambo perform Merengue in front of the festival poster dedicated to "the Puerto Rico woman."

Burgos said that the festival celebrates the significance of the three distinct groups in the context of Puerto Rican culture.

Burgos recently started her own fund for members of the community in honor of her father and mother. After she passes, Burgos said, she wants the fund to specifically aid with issues surrounding homelessness and education throughout the city.”

I’ll always keep giving,” she said, adamant in her goal of reaching at least $10,000.

Gail Starfire Dancing at the Puerto Rican Festival

A woman who certainly made her presence known at the festival was Gail Starfire, also known as the Queen of the Sock Hop.

Starfire had the eyes of many in the crowd, which shouted her on as she moved vivaciously to the rhythm of the music. Her dance partner had a time keeping up with her.

I’m here to represent my generation,” Starfire said, and to remind people that it doesn’t matter what language you speak”: music and dance bring us together.

Starfire’s vivacity echoed the spirit of Saturday’s seven-hour event. The breeze made it easy to dance under the August sun, and as the hours went on more and more people settled in on the island.

Starfire stashing her carry-on music.

Samantha Cardona.

Halfway through the festival, musicians took a break from the stage and over a dozen women from the audience were invited to be highlighted.

One participant, Samantha Cardona, said she is proud to be a Puerto Rican woman. Born and raised in New Haven, Cardona works as a medical assistant and is a business owner here in the city. She has launched a business called JNJ Style & Accessories.

As other women took the stage, shouting the Puerto Rican towns their families originate from and their occupations, ranging from police officers to education workers, Cardona declared: I love it. Women run the world!”

Rev. Kevin Ewing of United Church on the Green, Andrew Giering, and Elizabeth Anton.

This is my music! This is la reggaeton!’” exclaimed long time New Havener and financial advisor Elizabeth Anton. Born in the Bronx, Anton grew up in Puerto Rico before coming to New Haven to attend school.

Hikotea Arts' dino petroglyph carved artwork

Joel Cruz, artist and founder of Hikotea Arts, showcased some of his original works at his booth on Saturday. Cruz said his pieces focus on the brown people of Puerto Rico,” highlighting Indigenous and African ethnic groups on the island through his paintings and dinosaur petroglyph carved accessories.

As the music continued to play out and crowd continued to roll in, every age, every ethnic background, and every heart beat to the rhythm of The Enchanted Island. 

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