Latin artist Farruko to headline Pittsburgh Hispanic Heritage Festival
Sandra Padilla entertains the crowd at last year’s Pittsburgh Hispanic Heritage Festival.
Face painting and other fun activities will take place during this Saturday's Pittsburgh Hispanic Heritage Festival.
Courtesy of Pittsburgh Hispanic Heritage Festival
A youngster has fun during the inaugural Pittsburgh Hispanic Heritage Festival in 2022. This year’s festival will be held on Saturday.
Submitted
Multi-platinum and two-time Latin Grammy winner Farruko will headline the Pittsburgh Hispanic Heritage Festival this weekend.
As it heads into its second year, music, food and fun are the cornerstones of the Pittsburgh Hispanic Heritage Festival.
“This is the first time we’ll be featuring a globally known artist, Farruko, at the PPG Paints Arena. It’s a concert you’d have to travel to Miami or Los Angeles to see,” said Benny Ulloa, CEO of UC Entertainment and owner of Emiliano’s Mexican Restaurant & Bar, which hosted the inaugural Hispanic Heritage Festival in 2022 at PNC Park.
The event, held in conjunction with Hispanic Heritage Month, recognizes the impact that the Hispanic community has made in the area. And the numbers prove that the community is growing. From 2010-2018, the Hispanic community in Pittsburgh has surged by 180%, according to the most recent information from the Duquesne Small Business Development Center.
“The presence of Latinos here is impactful, contributing profoundly to Pittsburgh’s progress,” said Melanie Marie Boyer, executive director of the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Foundation.
Family-friendly fun at area museums
The event will kick off at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 30 at Heinz Museum with crafts, cuisine, music and art celebrating the Hispanic culture.
“Families will be able to walk around the center to view the exhibits,” said Boyer.
The public is also invited to the Clemente Museum for the Dia da Bomba y Plena, to recognize Roberto Clemente’s 3,000th hit. Guests, for a cost of $21, can take part in the festivities with food, live music, games and other activities from 1-4 p.m.
“Our goal was to marry community with corporate and bringing the events to the museums makes it a big draw,” said Boyer.
Multi-Platinum Latin Grammy winner Farruko takes the stage
At 8 p.m., PPG Paints Arena will come alive with the music of Puerto Rican urban pop duo Domino Saints, to be followed by Puerto Rican rapper/singer Carlos Efrén Reyes Rosado, otherwise known as Farruko.
Farruko has attracted worldwide audiences and has been recognized as one of the most innovative exponents of the reggaeton genre–a form of dance music which hails from Puerto Rico and is comprised of Latin rhythms, dancehall and rap.
With eight successful albums and multiple collaborations with international artists, Farruko’s career has been recognized in an HBO documentary: “Farruko: En Letra de Otro.”
“Farruko will be making history as the first Latino artist to headline a show at the PPG Paints Arena. By bringing him here, we are taking the festival to the next level,” said Ulloa, adding that the artist is estimated to attract up to 16,000 people.
Giving back
Boyer said the day will be filled with great music and fun events with some of the proceeds going to non-profits.
“A portion goes to the Foundation to support economic impact programming,” said Boyer, explaining that the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce operates a Business Success Academy (BSA) to help entrepreneurs take their businesses to the next level with cohort learning and training and a marketing and finance package worth between $5-10,000.
“We’ve helped restaurants, a mortgage company and artists, to name a few,” she noted, adding that her organization also connects with community partners, like Strong Women Strong Girls (SWSG), Girl Scouts, Casa San Jose and the Children’s Museum.
Ulloa said when he and Troy Duffan founded UC Entertainment, one of the goals was to partner with the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to focus on expanding the Hispanic Heritage Festival to attract thousands.
“This festival embodies our commitment to showcasing and honoring the vibrant Hispanic heritage, while fostering a sense of unity and inclusivity among all residents of our city. By creating an immersive experience that invites everyone to embrace and appreciate our rich culture, we aim to ignite a spirit of celebration and mutual understanding,” said Ulloa.
To learn more, or to register for events, visit: https://www.pmahcc.org/event-5380570.