Junta, Peabody Partner For ¡Fiesta Latina!, Celebration Of Hispanic Cultures Set For Sept. 27-28

NEW HAVEN, CT — The Junta for Progressive Action, New Haven's oldest Hispanic-led nonprofit and the Yale Peabody Museum host ¡Fiesta Latina!, a celebration of Hispanic cultures Sept. 27 at the Junta, 169 Grand Ave., and the Peabody on Sept. 28 for a day of performances. Both days, the festival hours are noon to 5 p.m.

The celebration is a collaboration between the non-profit and the museum, with support from the New Haven Free Public Library, and the Yale Latino Networking Group. Arte Inc. Entravision is the media sponsor.

The Peabody Museum is located at 170 Whitney Ave. Junta for Progressive Action is located at 169 Grand Ave. All programs are free, community-led, and accessible to participants of all ages.

In 2024, when the festival returned to post-pandemic in-person programming, several thousand attended events at both Junta and the museum, "creating an electric atmosphere around the celebration," organizers said.

"Fiesta Latina is more than a festival. It is a reflection of our mission to uplift and empower the Hispanic and immigrant families of Greater New Haven. Together with the Yale Peabody Museum, we are proud to celebrate our culture while opening doors to education, opportunity, and a brighter future for the next generation," said Frederic DePourcq, Director of Development & Operation for Junta.

Performances at the Peabody

Noon to 1 p.m.: Proyecto Cimarron. A Puerto Rican Bomba performance group based in New Haven. The members were brought together by their love of Afro-Latino culture, a shared commitment to preserving and sharing bomba rhythms, and utilizing bomba as a gateway for advancing social justice..

1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.: The Spanish Community of Wallingford’s youth mariachi band and dance troupe, committed to preserving the cultural heritage of Mexico. The group supports the Wallingford community with programs "exemplifying our core values: guidance, education, and sharing."

3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Orquesta Afinke: Based in Stratford, its diverse repertoire includes styles typical to many Latin American countries including: Salsa, Merengue, Cumbia, Boleros, Plena, Latin jazz, among others.

All performances will take place in the Peabody Museum’s Central Gallery, a bright and open space featuring an epic battle between an Archelon (a large prehistoric turtle) and a Mosasaur, a fearsome prehistoric fish, high in its rafters.

Also set for the Peabody, Yale neuroscientist Daniel Colon-Ramos present a talk in Spanish on innovations in neuroscience. Throughout the museum, Spanish-speaking scientists will be on hand to talk about how their research contributes to a deeper understanding of the world around us.

"Our goal is to celebrate Hispanic culture through community programming and through sharing objects from the Peabody’s collections about those cultures," Yale Peabody Museum education director Andrea Motto said. "Working side by side with Junta, we will celebrate the breadth of identities in the Hispanic community in and beyond New Haven. We hope to foster connection and solidarity through education, performance, storytelling, and hands-on cultural activities."