Hispanic Heritage Festival plays to a diverse audience

The third annual Hispanic Heritage Festival was held at the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts on Friday, Sept. 17.

The extravaganza was packed with a full house, with many of the sponsors setting up tables in the lobby area for eventgoers to learn about different programs available to the Latino community of Patchogue.

Jodi Giambrone, member of the Latino Leadership Council, an organization within the Patchogue Chamber of Commerce that was responsible for putting together the festival, sang a soul-inspiring rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” to set off the evening, that was formed and cultivated in the spirit of one community.

Hosts and performers of the evening carried out this message of multiculturalism set forth by Latino Leadership Council leader, Javier Kinghorn, by speaking in both English and Spanish.

“In previous years, there was concern that non-Latinos were unable to understand what was going on, but we wanted to have an inclusive festival,” said Kinghorn.

A main fixture of the evening was emcee, Bernardino Rosario, who dazzled the crowd with his luminescent onstage presence, clad in sparkling black, and his high-speed train momentum for jokes and revelry at the performers.

Transitioning from Spanish to English with a natural dexterity, Rosario was able to engage a diverse audience, which he often sent into standing cheers whenever a specific Latin-American country was honored.

Kinghorn spoke and introduced each member of the Latino Leadership Council, commending them for their work for the Patchogue community, with each person carrying the flag of their nationality, which included El Salvador, Mexico and Puerto Rico.

Acts included singers, drummers, bands, dancers, and musicians from all over South America. The first act was a techno-thumping duo in Daft Punk-esque costume, whose pyrotechnics wowed the crowd and had them moving to the beat, with complimentary air balloons given out during the performance.

As the evening went on, the audience was treated to acts from Ecuador, Peru, Argentina and Brazil, among others. A ballroom dance of the tango was so inspired it brought the audience to a standing ovation, with its intricate twists and turns and light-footedness.

Elected officials Legis. Rob Calarco and Patchogue mayor Paul Pontieri were in attendance and sitting in prime front-row seats for the evening.

Kinghorn personally thanked both men for their work in helping the Latino population flourish in Patchogue, and for continuing to support programs that encourage and develop the investment of the Latino population in local forums.