Update: August 29, 2010 - Fiesta would like to thank the public for their undying support.  We have received hundreds of calls, emails, and mail from well wishers, loyal fans, union and Hispanic organizations, and public officials who could not believe Fiesta was not celebrated this year.     We are as devastated as all of you are that the Festival did not happen this year, breaking a long standing tradition over four decades old.  We hope that we can work things out and bring Fiesta back next year, better than ever! Today, our Board of Directors and Staff were in attendance at Rumsey Playfield meeting and greeting the "Fiesta's" faithful who come in every year.  Most did not know it was cancelled and/or had not checked the website.  We remained till after 5:30pm, but surprisingly there was no other event celebrated at the venue.  The famous Rumsey Playfield, the home of "Fiesta", on the last Sunday in August for over 20 years, remained empty.   Even without advertising and announcements, the faithful "Fiesta" attendees came by discussing ways to find solutions for the future.  A larger group, determined to help bring Fiesta back have organized a townhall meeting in El Barrio to inform the Puerto Rican community of what has happened.  It promises to be a peaceful demonstration of the community coming together to celebrate their heritage as so many other cultures celebrate theirs in New York City.  The date, time and place will be announced at a later date, right here on on the website.  We also extend an invitation to anyone interested in working with Fiesta Folklorica next year.   If you're interested, please contact us at lafiestapr@aol.com.   We thank the Central Park Foundation staff for their support in the past and hope to fulfill our recent committment to them working through our differences before next year's event.        . ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Update August 18, 2010 - The “Fiesta Folklorica Puertorriqueña” Festival has the unique, and proud distinction of being one of  the oldest, if not the oldest, and longest running annual event held in Central Park in its history. A fixture in Central Park festivities held every last Sunday in August since the mid 60s, “Fiesta” continues to attract thousands year after year. First introduced at the old Bandshell over 40 years ago, the festival grew and was moved to Rumsey Playfield, soon after its inception in 1980, and has remained FREE TO THE PUBLIC ever since. Countless legendary artists and entertainers have graced the stages at the Central Park venue, bringing families from all over the tri-state area and as far as Puerto Rico. As an organization “Fiesta Folklorica” has been a dedicated entity of the Puerto Rican community in New York City for over 44 years, educating the greater New York community through an assortment of cultural activities and entertainment, promoting a healthy desire to appreciate Puerto Rican history in all of its forms, while celebrating its rich and vibrant culture and ancestry. Every year Fiesta activates its volunteer staff and begins to raise funds to cover the growing costs of presenting the program, as well as for the use of the public park space.  In the past, Fiesta and the City Parks Foundation have had a wonderful working relationship.  Those responsible for managing, and determining what events are held at the Rumsey Playfield, Central Park venue have always been accommodating, and considerate of Fiesta as a not for profit entity, and have charged Fiesta accordingly.   Last year's event left a balance which could not be paid until approved funding was made available.  . Earlier this year, Fiesta endured a devastating setback in its long-standing relationship with the City Parks Foundation.  Fiesta was informed that Rumsey Playfield venue would no longer be available on its traditional date.  Since the demand for the use of the Park is high, there were no dates available to present the festival in it’s current form at Rumsey Playfield, essentially forcing this age-old cultural event out of Central Park to be replaced with a more lucrative alternative.   . Every year, the “Fiesta” organization has relied heavily on corporate sponsorships, private donations, and public funding to pay for increasing escalating costs of presenting the festival at the public park, while committing to continue to keep the event free to our visitors.  Successful attempts to secure funding to pay for the use of the park were hampered by bureaucratic delays, but the representatives at the City Parks Foundation refused to wait for the secured funding and have chosen to eliminate the festival, admitting they have been offered substantially more money for the use of the venue that day. “Fiesta Folklorica”, as an organization cannot exist without it’s Central Park festival, it is what we work toward each year, please do not let yet another Puerto Rican organization, another Puerto Rican event, close its doors for lack of support. We ask that our community let our voices be heard, and place a spotlight on a people that have wonderfully served this city’s inhabitants in every capacity imaginable.  Let the City Parks Foundation know that Fiesta is important to you.  Also contact your local representatives and ask them to work on behalf of Fiesta not to allow City Parks Foundation hand over the park to the highest bidder. Sincerely, The Fiesta Committee ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Welcome to our website!   Fiesta Folklórica Puertorriqueña, Inc, is proud to join the internet community with its very own e-home!  Here, you will find information about the organization that brings you "The Puerto Rican Folkloric Festival" year after year. . For over 44 years “Fiesta” has hosted this day long annual cultural event to celebrate Puerto Rican folkloric music and dance, focusing on traditional music and art, preserving them for future generations. The festival has been held at Rumsey Playfield, in Central Park, for over 20 years, and is the largest Puerto Rican community event held in New York, second only to the National Puerto Rican Day Parade. . Thank you for visiting our site, and we hope you can attend this year's Fiesta at Central Park, on Sunday, August 30th. . Fiesta Folklórica Puertorriqueña (The Puerto Rican Folkloric Festival) . . . BORICUA SOY! Respect The Flag		2010 FIESTA NEWS Fiesta scores a hit in 2009 FIESTA 2009: A HIT!!   The 2009 Fiesta Folklórica Puertorriqueña, scored big this year!  The festival, held in Central Park, was the largest in many years as our people are finding thier way back to this yearly tradition.  This one of a kind Folkloric Festival can still bring in eager crowds who want to experience a cultural connection to their people.    . We are now adding a summary of the festivities, along with photographs of the event to share with those who missed the celebration this year.  Fiesta partners with "2010 Census"  In March 2010 your census form will arrive.  Don't miss your opportunity to be counted and make a difference.  By answering 10 questions, you can help improve schools, roads, hospitals, job-training programs, public transportation, and much more. "In The Heights" donates free tickets  Folks from the the 4 Tony Award winning 2008 musical have donated tickets to the Fiesta event.  Come to the park and take your chances to win tickets to see this extraordinary work by one of our own, Lin-Manuel Miranda.