(CARTERET, NJ) -- Once again, New Jersey's most popular Latin Fest will return to Carteret Borough's wonderful waterfront on Saturday, July 27, 2024 at Waterfront Park & Veteran's Pier.
Presented by Mayor Daniel J. Reiman, the Borough Council and Carteret Business Partnership, Carteret Latin Fest will be headlined by Jersey-raised merengue star Raul Acosta and his legendary band Oro Solido. Highlights also will include other live music, as well as popular DJs, a feast of Latin food, a beer garden, fireworks, cultural dances, and park attractions, such as mini golf, volleyball, a bocce court, and a putting green.
“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,” Mayor Reiman said. “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, Eric Cabanilla y Su Grupo K’Ndela , Santo Fereirra, DJ Anthony Rey, Latin Mix Masters – 16-member Miami-style DJ ensemble that spins salsa, bachata, reggaeton, urban, and electronic dance music, and MC Willie Will.
* 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.”
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, along with a beer garden.
The fiesta will be from 4:00pm to 11:00pm with fireworks scheduled for 9:15pm at 100 Middlesex Ave. Because of the popularity of Latin Fest, additional parking will be located and buses will run from 4:00pm 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 Michaels 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.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE BOROUGH OF CARTERET