Raul Acosta/Oro Solido Will Headline Carteret's Latin Fest July 27

CARTERET, NJ — Carteret Latin Fest will be held July 27 this year, as always at Waterfront Park and Veteran’s Pier.

Carteret holds its Latin Fest every year, and the event always attracts a large amount of crowds. This year, the festival will be headlined by New Jersey-raised merengue star Raul Acosta and his legendary band Oro Solido.

Highlights will include other live music, popular DJs, a feast of Latin food, a beer garden, Spanish cultural dances and fireworks at dark. They will also have mini golf, volleyball, a bocce court and a putting green. Latin Fest goes from 4 to 11 p.m. with fireworks scheduled for 9:15 p.m. at 100 Middlesex Ave.

In addition to the music, attendees will be able to enjoy cultural dances in a variety of Latin styles, including salsa, merengue, bachata, cumbia and musica tipica. A variety of Latin-style dishes also can be enjoyed.

"Carteret is the most culturally diverse town in Central New Jersey and the third most diverse town in all of New Jersey, with almost 40 percent of our community being of Hispanic descent," said Carteret Mayor Dan Reiman. "Our annual Latin Fest is one of many celebrations of Carteret’s diversity. It has become one of the best attended Latin festivals in the state and is a fantastic opportunity to educate our community through food, music and cultural dances.”

Considered to be one of the strongest voices in merengue today, Oro Solido has churned out solid gold hits, such as “Ta Cache,” “La Tanguita Roja,” “Maria se Fue,” “El Baile del Beeper,” “Una Naigadita” and “La Morena.”

The Dominican-born Acosta formed the band in 1994 in Jersey City and now is based in Florida.

Other performers will include:

• Angelyse Mariah – A United Masters artist raised in Union County, who has been making waves on the East Coast and soon will be bicoastal between N.J. and L.A.
• Eric Cabanilla y Su Grupo K’Ndela – Newark-based salsa band with more than 15 years of live experience thrilling audiences in the tristate area
• Santo Fereirra, rising bachata star from Perth Amboy
• DJ Anthony Rey – host of “La Súper Mezcla de La X” on X96.3FM Latin radio
• Latin Mix Masters – 16-member Miami-style DJ ensemble that spins salsa, bachata, reggaeton, urban and electronic dance music
• MC Willie Will – The mic master of Latin Mix Masters know, aka “El Party Maker.”

Because of the popularity of Latin Fest, additional parking will be located off site and buses will run from 4 p.m. to midnight at the following locations:

• Carteret Public Library, 100 Cooke Avenue
• Carteret Middle School at Carteret Park on Carteret Avenue
• Minue School, 83 Post Blvd.

Sponsors are Bell Mitsubishi, Berje´, CME, CMG Home Loans, Corona, Chris Michael's Steak House, FPA Parello & Associates, JCT Solutions, Midstate Credit Union, OSI Technology (an Easter Datacomm company), P.C. Richard & Son, Race Star, Shop Rite and Xfinity. Updates about Latin Fest will be available at Carteret.net or by following @MyCarteret on Facebook, Instagram, and X.