"The festival highlights a diversity I didn't even know Hartford had." Tracy Green
This past weekend, over 50,000 people gathered in downtown Hartford to celebrate their cultural heritage.
Saturday, August 8, was the 53rd annual Greater Hartford West Indian Celebration, which included a parade on Trumbull Street and festivities in Bushnell Park. And Sunday, August 9, was the first annual Hartford Latino Fest on the Mortenson Riverfront Plaza.
These festivals came during a period where Hartford saw an apparent uptick in violence. Early Tuesday morning, Hartford had its 21st homicide this year. There were 19 homicides in Hartford in all of 2014.
Event organizers were worried that the recent violence would affect turnout at the events.
Seanna Bowen Wishart, the Secretary of the West Indian Independence Celebrations expressed her concerns, and saw a huge importance in the festivals.
“We’ve been under so much pressure with all the negative headlines in the news,” said Bowen Wishart. “Something like this where we can just celebrate our heritage and just be happy and festive is just wonderful.”
Tracy Green traveled from New Britain to experience her first West Indian celebration. “It’s been amazing. The festival highlights a diversity I didn’t even know Hartford had,” she said.
Overall, Bowen Wishart felt the festival was a success. “I’m really happy right now, it's been eventless, a real enjoyable atmosphere. People just enjoying themselves and having a great time,” she said.
Maria Rosa was ecstatic to learn about the first annual Hartford Latino Fest. Born in Puerto Rico, Rosa takes every opportunity to connect with her culture. “This represents my culture, what I learned since I was a little girl,” she said.
Rosa felt that culturally focused events helped the community. “As long as we all communicate, and we all expand our culture here in the United states, we’ll be alive and progressing,” she said.
Community outreach programs also saw value in attending community the events. Access Health CT had several staff members at the Latino Fest.
“We’re here at the Hartford Latino Fest, just to remind individuals the importance of having health insurance,” said Kimberly Renton, social media manager at Access Health CT. “Reaching out to individuals in Hartford and all over Connecticut is our goal and an event like this is helpful.”
The West Indian Independence Celebration seems to remain a staple of Hartford, and the Latino Fest organizers hope to make the event an annual one.
When asked if she would attend again next year, Rosa said, “If I’m alive, darling, definitely.”
Rob Dozier is an intern at WNPR.