The thirtieth annual Festival Santiago Apostol de Loiza returns to East Harlem July 27-29
105th St. between Lexington & Park Aves.
July 27-29, free, 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
cccadi.org/loiza
Named after Chief Yuisa of the Taino tribe in Puerto Rico, the Festival Santiago Apostol de Loiza is held in the fifty-first state as well as right here in New York City, where the thirtieth anniversary of the three-day celebration takes place July 27-29 in East Harlem on 105th St. & Lexington Ave. For three decades, Loiza residents have been gathering to honor the Spanish Reconquista of Iberia from the Moors hundreds of years ago, with the first day focusing on men, the second women, and the third children. Organized by the Hermanos Fraternos de Loiza, the festivities, a mix of Spanish, Caribbean, and African culture, include such traditional food as ice slurpies, stuffed platanos, and coconut drinks, live music and dance, storytelling, arts & crafts, special masks and costumes, a family art workshop with Manny Vega, and a procession featuring Vegigantes, El Viejo y La Vieja, La Loca, El Caballero, and others. Among the many performers are Caridad De La Luz “La Bruja,” Los Pleneros de la 21, Pete Rodriguez & Su Orquesta Dulzura, Ashley Alvarez, Eternal Legacy, the Starlite Dancers, Bomba Works’ “AYA,” Ralph Sabater Jr., Los Pleneros De Trastalleres, Kumba Carey, and Zon del Barrio, Tato Torres, and Yerba Buena.