Release Date: August 26,2025
Raíces, Ritmos y Recuerdos: Akron Latin Festival 2025 to Bring Food, Music & Culture to Lock 3
August 26, 2025, Akron, Ohio — Downtown Akron Partnership (DAP) is pleased to announce that the 5th Annual Akron Latin Festival—newly renamed Raíces, Ritmos y Recuerdos (Roots, Rhythms and Memories) to better capture the ethos of the celebration—will take place in downtown Akron at Lock 3 on Saturday, September 20, from 2 to 9 pm. The festival is co-presented by DAP and Proyecto RAICES.
Proyecto RAICES Executive Director Rita Aggarwal says, “The Akron Latin Festival showcases the tremendous music, food and artistic culture of the people from Central and Latin American countries. Come enjoy and support this wonderful event on September 20th in our great city!”
Though this is the third iteration of the celebration in downtown Akron, it is the first that will take place in the beautifully renovated Lock 3. Visitors can look forward to 20+ food and retail vendors representing many different Latin American cultures, as well as nonprofit engagement booths, free crafts and activities, and live entertainment throughout the day on the Maynard Performance Pavilion stage.
DAP President and CEO Kimberly Beckett says, “We are honored to continue the partnership with Proyecto RAICES to bring a joyful, vibrant celebration to downtown Akron. We’re thrilled to once again celebrate and honor our local Latin and Hispanic communities, who add so much richness to our city.”
Entertainment will include performances by Northeast Ohio bands Herencia Norteña, Conjunto Guarachando and Grupo Fuego, as well as DJ LOLO Knows, with Spanish voice of the Cleveland Cavaliers Rafael Hernández-Brito donating his time as event emcee. Additionally, NEOPro Wrestling will present professional wrestling matches in the Lock 3 Back Yard, directly across the canal from the stage.
New this year, there will be an opening ceremony involving a presentation of flags from different Latin American countries. Those interested in being part of the opening ceremony and carrying a flag can sign up by contacting DAP at info@downtownakron.com.
Other event highlights will include a cooking demonstration, specialty cocktails available at the Lock 3 concessions, the Akron Inner City Soccer Club, piñatas, free cultural activities for visitors of all ages and roaming entertainment, including stilt walkers and a wandering magician. The festival will conclude with a dazzling display of fireworks over the park. The festival is free and open to the public.
Learn more about Raíces, Ritmos y Recuerdos: https://www.downtownakron.com/event/2025-akron-latin-festival
Learn more about the work Proyecto RAICES does to provide educational and social support to children of Latino/Hispanic families in the Akron area: https://proyectoraicescla.org/
DAP is committed to planning cultural festivals that are respectful, authentic, and co-created with the community. These festivals are planned by dedicated committees of Akronites and Greater Akronites with ties to each cultural celebration, whether they personally belong to a particular cultural group or are professionally affiliated with an organization that serves people of a particular background. Those interested in serving on the planning committee for Akron Latin Festival—or other cultural celebrations including the Downtown Akron Lunar New Year Celebration, Downtown Akron Sakura Festival and Downtown Akron Juneteenth Celebration—are invited to email info@downtownakron.com to sign up.
Raíces, Ritmos y Recuerdos: Akron Latin Festival 2025 is presented by Proyecto Raices, Downtown Akron Partnership, and the City of Akron. Additional support is provided by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Ohio Arts Council, GAR Foundation, Akron Community Foundation, the Raices Employee Resource Group at the J.M. Smucker Co. and the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office.