Warmer weather signals an incoming flood of outdoor festivals, starting Saturday with D.C.’s Second Annual Afro Latino Fest.
The festival takes place in Meridian Hill Park, also known as Malcolm X Park, in Northwest D.C. The gates open at noon on June 3.
“We have live music, dance and food and all of the colors and flavors of our Latino communities … we’re going to have six bands that are going to be performing throughout the day,” said Eduardo Perdomo, director of the Mayor’s Office on Latino Affairs.
Highlighting the musical performances will be the Grammy-nominated band Cimafunk from Cuba. There’ll also be bomba music from Puerto Rico.
D.C.-area bands will also take the stage, including the Soul Searchers who will perform with a salsa band to highlight the roots of the city’s official genre — Go-go music — popularized by the late Chuck Brown who churned out hits with the Soul Searchers.
“Chuck Brown used to play in a Latino band, way before he play Go-go, and the percussion helped build his first album,” Perdomo said.
The festival is free and Perdomo stresses that it’s for families.
“It’s a great opportunity for everyone out there,” he said. “You can come with your kids, have a great time, have some food, live music, dance.”
The entrance to the festival will be at 15th and Chapin Streets NW.
