ALLENTOWN, Pa. — The second annual Fiesta on Hamilton has brought thousands of people to downtown Allentown for a day filled with food, music, and culture.
For Jaiden Ortiz, it is his first time experiencing the event.
“My favorite part so far is probably the music,” Ortiz said. “It’s very beautiful. It really expresses the culture, especially for us Puerto Ricans out here. Very amazing.”
Brittney Ciardi, with the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, said last year’s event drew more than 20,000 people. After that success, organizers decided to go even bigger this year.
“It feels so good that we get to finally see everyone having such a good time,” Ciardi said.
To accommodate the crowds, organizers added an extra stage, expanded the festival footprint, and closed off even more blocks to make room for the food, the music, and the thousands dancing in the streets.
“This is really Allentown at its best,” Ciardi said. “We get to see people just feel connected to the experience and feel connected to one another. And I can’t really explain how much that really means to me as an event organizer.”
Even Gov. Josh Shapiro made a stop at the fiesta, taking time to speak with members of the community.
It was a community coming together this Sunday, celebrating Latin culture and the spirit of the city.