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Spanish Heritage Festival entices crowd with music and food
By SARAH LEHR
YOUNGSTOWN
For Melissa Rentas, the Youngstown Spanish Heritage Festival is a family affair. Rentas, a member of the festival’s planning committee, spent much of Friday night flanked by her mother, Nida Rentas, and her father, John Rentas.
Melissa said most of the festival’s coordinators are Youngstown-born residents like herself whose parents emigrated from Latin American countries. “We’re the younger generation,” she said. “Our parents brought their culture with them, and this festival is all about preserving those traditions and values.”
Family and religion, Melissa said, are chief among those values.
Melissa’s mother, Nida, who came to Youngstown from Puerto Rico when she was 7 years old, chimed in to say that she has been married to Melissa’s father for 51 years.
“You don’t see that much anymore,” Melissa said.
John Rentas, a Catholic deacon, conducted a service soon after the festival began Friday. The festival, which spans East Federal Street between Market and Walnut streets, lasted from 6 to 11 p.m. Friday. It continues from noon to 11 p.m. today and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday. Admission was $5 per person Friday and is $3 per person today and Sunday. Children under 12 get in free if they’re accompanied by an adult.
Friday night the fest was abuzz with local vendors and live music provided by Ken Reyes of Rookery Radio with Pedro and Friends.
Gina Laviena, of Mama Gina’s Cuchylandia restaurant in Campbell, drew a crowd to her booth. Laviena offered Puerto Rican delicacies, including rice and beans, fried pork and meat pies called pastelillos. Her top-seller was the jibarito, a sandwich featuring steak, cheese, lettuce and plantains.
Laviena, a fixture on Youngstown’s East Side, said she thrives at festivals. “I’m a people person,” she said. “I love seeing people of all nationalities and all ages come out to enjoy the music and the food.”
Saturday’s activities includes a car show and a parade beginning at Himrod Avenue. There will be face-painting, a bounce-around, wrestling and live music by the Labra Brothers and Rumba the Show. Proceeds from the festival will benefit neighborhood ministries and a scholarship fund.