Boston’s Festival Betances is back for its 53rd year this Saturday, and this time the city’s signature Puerto Rican celebration is moving into its new digs. The full slate of music, food and a community parade will unfold on La CASA’s recently opened campus in Villa Victoria, the first time the festival has been held inside IBA’s permanent cultural home just weeks after the center opened to the public.
La CASA anchors local arts after opening
La CASA debuted in mid May with a ribbon cutting and a three day public celebration that drew artists, elected officials and neighborhood residents, according to The Boston Sun. The four story, roughly 26,000 square foot center is backed by a mix of public and philanthropic funding and is designed to host performances, exhibitions and community programs that IBA says will bolster resident services and arts education. “La CASA is more than a building,” IBA CEO Vanessa Calderón Rosado said during opening weekend, per the coverage.
Festival lineup, schedule and free programming
Organizer IBA lists Festival Betances for Saturday, July 18 at Plaza Betances, with a lineup that includes Liberty Vibes (the U.S. Army Reserve salsa ensemble), Fabián Torres, Brenda K. Starr and headliner Luisito Ayala y La Puerto Rican Power. IBA also notes gallery programming and guided tours inside La CASA during the festival. The event runs from early afternoon into the evening and is free to the public, according to Eventbrite.
Decades of history in Villa Victoria
Festival Betances began in 1973 and has drawn thousands of attendees to Villa Victoria each summer, according to the Boston Business Journal. Local outlets also note that this year’s edition, carrying the theme “Boricua Legacy: Shaping America’s Story,” is the first to take place after La CASA’s public opening, tying the celebration into citywide America 250 commemorations.
What to expect and where to go
The action centers on Plaza Betances at 100 West Dedham Street, where a community parade winds through Villa Victoria before ending at the main stage, according to local listings such as DanceSeekers. IBA’s event page has the full performance schedule, vendor and artisan open call forms, and notes that La CASA will be open during the afternoon for gallery tours and family programming. Attendees are encouraged to check the festival listing in advance for transit options, potential street closures and accessibility details for the weekend.
