Rain Doesn’t Dampen Celebration at MVLA’s 20th Annual Latino American Festival
UTICA, N.Y. — Thunderstorms and intermittent rain couldn’t dampen the spirit at Hanna Park as throngs of people gathered Sunday for the Mohawk Valley Latino Association’s 20th Annual Latino American Festival, celebrating the rich cultures, traditions and diversity of the Mohawk Valley.
Under the theme “Unidos Somos Más — Together We Are More,” the Aug. 23 festival brought families, friends and neighbors together for a day filled with music, food, dancing, cultural traditions and community connections.
Umbrellas went up and the rain came down, but the celebration continued.
DJ Richy kept festivalgoers moving throughout the day, while La Kreme added live entertainment. The aromas of Dominican and other Latin American cuisine filled Hanna Park as families gathered to eat, dance and celebrate.
Vendors offered clothing, crafts, accessories, flags and merchandise representing Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Colombia and other parts of Latin America, giving festivalgoers an opportunity to celebrate their heritage while supporting local entrepreneurs and small businesses.
“Our Latino American Festival is about preserving our heritage while sharing the richness and beauty of our cultures with the entire Mohawk Valley,” said Carmen Sonia Martinez, executive director of the Mohawk Valley Latino Association. “Our music, food, dance and traditions tell the stories of who we are and where we come from. Seeing generations of families and people from so many different backgrounds celebrating together — even through the rain — reminds us why it is so important to keep these traditions alive and pass them on to our children.”
The festival also provided an opportunity for community organizations to connect with residents. Blaque Acres was among the participating organizations, while the Mohawk Valley Institute for Learning in Retirement (MVILR) distributed information about upcoming educational opportunities, including its Disaster Preparedness class and Introduction to Salsa, led by MVLA member Feidy Miner. Information highlighting the Erie Canal and the Mohawk Valley’s history and heritage was also available.
Traditional activities, including dominoes, added to the festivities as people of different ages and backgrounds came together throughout Hanna Park.
The annual Latino American Festival reflects MVLA’s broader mission of educating, empowering and improving the quality of life of Latino residents while increasing awareness of the Latino community’s historical and contemporary contributions to the Mohawk Valley.
Despite thunderstorms and intermittent rain, festivalgoers stayed, danced, ate, shopped and celebrated — demonstrating the spirit behind this year’s theme, “Unidos Somos Más — Together We Are More.”
The celebration of Latino culture will continue this fall with MVLA’s 22nd Annual Hispanic Heritage Gala on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, from 6 to 9 p.m. The annual gala brings Latino and non-Latino members of the community together for an evening celebrating culture, community, heritage and achievement.
About the Mohawk Valley Latino Association
The Mohawk Valley Latino Association is a Utica-based nonprofit organization dedicated to educating and empowering Latino residents, improving quality of life and promoting greater understanding of the Latino community’s contributions throughout the Mohawk Valley.
For more information about MVLA, its programs and upcoming events, visit www.mvlautica.org, email mvla@mvlautica.org or call 315-864-8419.
Media Contacts:
Dawn Laguerre, Media and Publicity
laguerremedia@gmail.com
315-266-7548
Carmen Sonia Martinez, Executive Director
Mohawk Valley Latino Association
315-542-2561
mvla@mvlautica.org
