Interactive cultural exhibits, nearly 100 artisans, historical games, traditional dance performances, dance workshops, and food vendors representing over a dozen countries will come together during the St. Augustine’s Unidos en la Música: A Latin American Festival on Saturday, May 6, offering a day filled with the sights, sounds, and flavors of Hispanic culture for the enjoyment of the whole family.
Merengue star and Latin Grammy winner Elvis Crespo, who rose to fame with his hit Suavemente, is the main attraction of the festival’s diverse program, which will take place from 10 AM to 10 PM at St. Augustine’s Francis Field, located at 25 W. Castillo Drive. Festival attendees will also enjoy dance performances from World Salsa Summit champions, salsa and bachata workshops, Brazilian samba and capoeira performances, Mexican folk dance, a traditional Peruvian dance, a Venezuelan dance troupe, and more.
“Our festival seeks to unite people from all cultural backgrounds,” said Erika Quintero, founder of Unidos en la Música. “The city of St. Augustine is the original melting pot of the Americas and where our Hispanic culture first flourished in what is now the United States. We want to tell our stories, past and present, so that others can experience our culture up close, learn, and have fun.”
This year, the festival is adding new immersive experiences, including:
• Hall of Heroes: An exhibit featuring life-sized cutouts of some Latin American heroes, such as humanitarian and Baseball Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente, Nobel Prize-winning author Gabriel García Márquez, and beloved Mexican singer Selena.
• Somos Humanos (We are Human): Participants will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one and ask direct questions, speed-dating style, to individuals whose stories are often misunderstood or stigmatized, such as members of the LGBTQ+ community, indigenous peoples, and immigrants. All respectful questions are welcome.
• Mesoamerican Ball Game: Before their arrival in the Americas, the Spanish had never seen games played with balls made of rubber, a material native to the New World. All major Mesoamerican civilizations had variations of ball games. Families can learn to play this precursor to modern ball sports, as well as other traditional games like tejo, futsal, sapo, and more.
The festival’s culinary experience includes authentic dishes from Puerto Rico, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Cuba, El Salvador, and more, offered by a variety of vendors.
Tickets for Unidos en La Música are on sale now, starting at just $10. VIP access is also available and includes access to shaded tents with comfortable seating areas, tempting snacks from Chef Norberto Jaramillo, owner of St. Augustine’s La Cocina Restaurant, a bar with alcoholic beverages featuring premium wines, beers, and spirits, as well as access to an air-conditioned restroom. VIP tickets start at $75 per person.
St. Augustine, Florida is where Hispanic culture and influence first took root in our nation. The city was founded by Spanish explorer Pedro Menéndez de Avilés in 1565, more than 40 years before the first English settlement was established in Jamestown, Virginia. Today, its Hispanic heritage lives on in its streets, attractions, hotels, and restaurants.