The iconic highrises of Downtown Long Beach glimmered in the sun as they towered over a pristine Lincoln Park on Saturday during Viva Long Beach festival, a first of its kind Latino Heritage celebration.
Musical acts from surrounding areas, local vendors and attendees of all ages gathered in the park for a day filled with culture, community and celebration.
The day kicked off with Gummy, a fairly new local band with a sound reminiscent of 1970s rock with a hint of surfer rock.
“We’re elastic. We bring a little bit of everything.”, said drummer and lead singer Edgar Fernandez.
“The way we dress, the way we perform… it’s meant to be compelling,” said Fernandez, who was wearing an electric blue jumpsuit, paired with a funky pair of glasses. “We just want people to put their phones down and enjoy the moment.”
Gummy set the tone for what was to be a day full of eclectic music.
Just as eclectic were the vendors lining the festival grounds such as Bar Nuda, a cocktail pop-up specializing in non-alcoholic provisions.
“I saw this as a necessity, not just for sober people but for anyone else who doesn’t drink,” said bartender Bryant Orozco.
Bar Nuda sources a lot of their ingredients from Mexico, resulting in culinary-like concoctions, such as their Rosa Nuda. It’s a delicate cocktail made with a non-alcoholic Tequila, rose, lemon, Bougainvillea, and orange bitters.
The cocktail paired well with the variety of food options. On site were Quesadillas, Wetzel’s Pretzels, Pupusas and a local favorite, Los Reyes Del Taco Sabroso.
In between eating and dancing, attendees shopped with merchants such as Used Work Clothes, a family owned business that has been serving North Long Beach for over 20 years.
“Originally, my grandparents started this business to serve the blue collar community,” said Sam Rivas, who was manning the booth for her family’s business. “Now, I want to help us reach a younger demographic by emphasizing the sustainability, durability, and the history of work clothes.”
Rivas is grateful for the platform Viva Long Beach has given her family’s business considering the uncertain fate of their future given that their lease is soon to expire.
Another family owned business highlighted by Viva Long Beach was JD Dance Company. The dance company, which is home to national champions, presented a medley of dances including styles like folklorico and bachata performed by their junior dancers.
The dancers were followed by artists from surrounding areas such as rapper Silvandgold and later, Julio Torres Y Mariachi Cenzontle.
The mariachi group encouraged attendees to sing along to legendary Mexican singer Vicente Fernandez’s “Volver”, inciting a spirit of celebration and community.
Los Angeles DJs, Que Madre and Linda Nuves, got the crowd moving with their Chulita Vinyl Club set including latino favorites such as the Caballito Dorado, Selena, and La Chona.
“It meant a lot to be here today,” said Que Madre. “I’m not from Long Beach but I have a lot of relationships here.”
Someone who also knows a thing or two about ties to the city is rapper and poet Propaganda who was on site with his brand, Terraform, a cold brew coffee company.
When asked how he hoped people would enjoy the cold brew, Propaganda said, “They should slow down and really just enjoy the idea of how beautiful this is…just beans and water”.
With a smile, reflecting on coffee’s ancestral origins and its accessibility to people of all backgrounds, he said, “Coffee’s for the people.”
The fruit forward, citrus and pineapple flavors of the cold brew coffee paired well with the setting sun as guests eased into the remainder of the festival.
Viva Long Beach concluded with a nighttime set by the Brownboyz whose soulful, crooner-like melodies and riffs filled the festival grounds with breezy tunes that made the crowd sway.
