SCRANTON, Pa. — A celebration of Latino culture returned to Lackawanna County for the second year in a row. A Mexican Mayan dance performance, one of many performances at the 2nd annual NEPA Latino Fiesta in Scranton's Nay Aug Park on Saturday.
"For a lot of people in the Scranton community, this is home," said Elizabeth Rodriguez, Founder and President of Giving Back to the Community. "It makes them feel welcome. It makes them feel that they're noticed because we have a lot of other festivals, but not for the Latino culture, and we're so huge here in Scranton. It was needed."
Lori Kerragan has lived in Scranton for 13 years and says it is incomparable that, finally, there is something to celebrate her culture.
"I feel like a homecoming. That's what it feels like. I had a beautiful empanada. I'm going to do some namedropping. I hope I'm not. So, I got this beautiful. They have it here; come get it!."
Many people are glad they could celebrate their culture so close to home outside of Scranton, where nothing like this exists.
"I'm like with people from different ethnicities. You know like Puerto Ricans, Dominicans. I see people from Costa Rica, and it really means a lot to me," said Griselda Sosa of Tobyhana.
Latin Music, Performances, and cultural presentations like the one behind me filled the Latino Fiesta lineup all day.
"Well, I'm honestly just here for the food!" said an attendee.
Many different vendors were present at the NEPA Latino Fiesta. There were even bouncy houses for the children. And, of course, all of the Latin cuisine you can't find anywhere else.
"It's starting to grow. Last year, it was pretty big. I can't wait to see what it brings this year and then the years to come because it's amazing. You know there hasn't been too many of these around this area, so I'm so happy there are," said an attendee.