|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
During July and August, New Bedford once again enjoyed Latin traditions and culture, albeit in a different way. The beloved “Patio de comidas” — “Courtyard of Food” — which for years brought together hundreds of families in Riverside Park each summer, adopted a new format this season due to security concerns.
Following the ongoing immigration enforcement operations by federal agencies in the city, the event was not held in its usual outdoor space at Riverside Park. Instead, it was held as a private event in the parking lot of the Community Economic Development Center (CEDC) with attendees pre-registered by the organizers.
“We wanted the community to have a safe space to gather, relax, and enjoy themselves without fear of leaving their homes,” explained Corinn Williams, executive director of the CEDC. And so it was: tents filled with Latin aromas, art, music, dance, and color created a smaller but equally welcoming atmosphere.
The same safety concerns that transformed “Patio” also led to the cancellation of another beloved tradition: the “Festival Típico de Guatemala” — “Traditional Guatemalan Festival” — which normally runs every Saturday from July to August in Riverside Park.
Many attendees admitted they missed the park, where children ran freely and nature framed the festivities, but they understood that this year, safety came first.
Still, the essence of the celebration endured. “Here at the CEDC, people feel safer. Many already know the place, and that builds trust,” said Edith Diego, owner of one of the participating food businesses.
As the season concluded, “Patio” left one certainty: Latin culture and flavors in New Bedford remain as vibrant as ever.
Email Gerardo Beltrán Salinas at gerardo@newbedfordlight.org
