Check out the fun, food and entertainment at Bristol's 50th Puerto Rican Festival

Peg Quann, Bucks County Courier Times
·2 min read

Get your dancing shoes on and head to Bristol as the borough's Puerto Rican Festival kicks off July 29 with bands, entertainers and a DJ playing lively Latin tunes.

This is the Puerto Rican Cultural Association of Bucks County's 50th event to honor and celebrate Puerto Rican heritage. The event will take place noon to 8 p.m. in the Bristol Borough Waterfront Park.

While holding the flag of Puerto Rico, Virgilio Rios, of Philadelphia, stands during the playing of the National Anthem, during opening ceremonies at the 49th annual Puerto Rican Day Festival, held in Bristol Borough on Saturday, July 30, 2022.
While holding the flag of Puerto Rico, Virgilio Rios, of Philadelphia, stands during the playing of the National Anthem, during opening ceremonies at the 49th annual Puerto Rican Day Festival, held in Bristol Borough on Saturday, July 30, 2022.

Dance and listen at Bristol's Puerto Rican Festival

Among the entertainers scheduled to perform are Abby Cruz of TKA, courtesy of A&M Entertainment, the Cintron Salsa Band, Trio Renacer, Swing DeGuille, Los Bobmeros de la Calle and Combo Melaza.

The group Los Bomberos de la Calle will also conduct a bomba/plena workshop.

"We love to dance. A lot of people dance salsa. We have fun," said Nereida McCulley-Breustedt, spokeswoman for the cultural association.

The first festival was held in July 1972, she said, but this will be the 50th because the festival was canceled for one year during the pandemic.

More: Borough celebrates 'Bristol Stomp' mural with jumpin' good time

Festival offers freebies for kids

Face and rock painting will be available for free for children, who also can learn how to make maracas.

A wide variety of food vendors will offer specialties for fair-goers and a must stop is "The Healthy Rican" booth to see a cooking demonstration and learn about Puerto Rican seasonings that are diet friendly and add authentic flavor.

Other vendors will sell clothing and wares for fashion and home decor with a Latin flair.

For those who want to learn about their ancestry, the Bucks County Genealogical Society will offer free guidance and look-ups for guests who may be unaware of the many options available to find free records, even online.

And guests of Puerto Rican ancestry can chat with genealogist Cathy Ivins to learn more about their Boricua genes and family histories.

For more information on Bucks County Genealogical Society, visit www.bucksgen.org, or email publicity@bucksgen.org.

Rain date for the festival is Sunday, July 30. The waterfront park is located at Mill and Radcliffe streets in the borough.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Enjoy the flavorful food and colorful dances at Puerto Rican Festival