Press Release
Latincouver announces the dates for its Latin American [hybrid] Experience 2021
with both online and in-person events, content, and activities
Vancouver, April 8, 2021 – Vancouver’s own Carnaval del Sol, the biggest Latin American festival in the Pacific Northwest, will take place from August 6-29, 2021 as an expansive hybrid experience that knows no boundaries, going, once again across The Americas, from Vancouver to Patagonia.
For over a decade, Carnaval del Sol has been one of the most important festivals showcasing Latinx artists, food vendors, creators, and businesses in the Vancouver area, and its organizers understand that it is their responsibility to help the community in any way possible to overcome the present-day challenges and adapt to the current times. “In a normal year, Carnaval del Sol supports over 400 artists and hundreds of local businesses and food vendors, welcoming over 50,000 guests per day. We know it will be impossible to reach these numbers in 2021, but once again, our team will be working hard to support our local entrepreneur and art communities because it is in times like these, when we need to work closer together, that we come out stronger as a community” affirmed Paola Murillo, Director and Founder of Latincouver.
This year, Latincouver is stepping up its game in the content and hybrid event realms. “In 2020 we developed an online program as a strategy of resilience. We discovered an untapped potential for cultural exchange from Vancouver to Patagonia. This year, we are expanding our offerings by working very closely with our sponsors, tech partners, artists, and creators to unleash a unique experience, online and in-person, so that people can connect with each other at Carnaval del Sol, and have an exciting second season of Across the Americas” stated Pablo Zacarias, Project Manager of Latincouver.
As for the in-person part of Carnaval del Sol, Latincouver’s team is working closely with the City of Vancouver, Vancouver Coastal Health and the provincial government to adhere to all health and safety protocols that may be in place in the summer. “In the coming months, our team will determine the scope and nature of the live experiences. However, our community can rest assured that we will shine together, more than ever: from home, from the streets, from Canada, from Latin America, from every corner of the planet” stated Fernanda Reynaud, Creative Project Coordinator of Latincouver.
Carnaval del Sol will confirm the extent of the in-person activities and performances it can hold in restaurants, clubs, venues and at its traditional location at Concord Community Park closer to August. The biggest Latin American festival in the Pacific Northwest plans to unveil exciting news in the coming weeks so make sure you follow the festival on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to be the first to know, as tickets to the live events will be sold in small batches.
“We are developing flexible and resilient live event ideas that will adhere to the capacity restrictions that may be in place in August. Maybe our activities will be for 10, 50, 100, 1000 people, maybe they will only take place online, nobody knows at this point, but we are ready to shine in any possible way” concluded Malcolm Aiken, Artistic Director of Carnaval del Sol, stressing the importance of activities like Carnaval del Sol to combat isolation, foster mental well-being and create a sense of belonging.
Carnaval del Sol will be a celebration of unity and reconnection giving priority to BIPOC artists, featuring, for the first time, Canadian Indigenous performers, and highlighting the contributions of the Asian community to Canada and Latin America. “This pandemic has shown us that we are deeply connected to this world and its processes, that we rely on one another for our individual, collective and planetary wellbeing, that is why, Latincouver is devoting this year to one purpose: Reconnecting” stated Arturo Hernández, Marketing Manager.
Run by Latincouver since 2008, Carnaval del Sol was not cancelled in 2020 but expanded into one of the first hybrid festivals in Canada and in the world – with the online series Across the Americas that featured headliners like Lila Downs and Pedrina, the social initiative Carnaval del Sol: in Restaurants, and a series of online and offline workshops part of Latin American Experience, thus supporting over 150 local artists and dozens of businesses during the summer.
Metro Vancouver has a new reason to look up to the summer: Carnaval del Sol is happening in August!
For images of Carnaval del Sol (2013-2020) click here.
About Latincouver
Latincouver is a BIPOC female led, non-profit organization that works along the idea of being the Latin American plaza, a socio-economic space promoting relationships and cultural exchange among Latin Americans and the Canadian mosaic and following four pillars: Supporting Communities, Promoting Culture, Empowering People and Connecting Businesses. Learn more about Latincouver, become a member, volunteer or donate to support their work here.
Latincouver is located in the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations currently known as Vancouver
Media Contact
Renata Diniz
(604) 809-4872
