Latino Festival of Monmouth County Returning to Downtown Freehold

The seventh annual Latino Festival of Monmouth County will take place in Downtown Freehold Friday, Sept. 30 through Sunday, Oct. 2.

The festival will begin at 7 p.m. on Friday when the film Aliplano will be screened at the on South Street, according to a press release issued by the Latino Coalition. In addition, The Perfect Game, Nada+, Nueve Reinas and The Devil’s Miner will be shown during the three-day film festival.

"Once again, we want to thank our partners at the Center Playhouse for working with us to make this film festival possible," Ann Bagchi, chair of the Latino Film Festival, said in the release. "The films themselves are beautiful and thought-provoking, but in addition each movie is followed by a discussion period touching on the issues raised by the performances. The festival has always been about breaking down barriers and fostering a cultural exchange."

In addition, the festival will include a day of live entertainment on Saturday, Oct. 1 from noon to 7 p.m. in the Hall of Records parking lot. The rain date is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 2. The activities will coincide with Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15.

"This is an opportunity to celebrate the diverse cultures of the fastest growing community in the United States," Angel Matos, chair of the Latino Festival of Monmouth County, said in the release. “Every year the festival gets bigger and better. It has gone from being a small community event to a regional festival drawing people from across a wide area.”

The Latino Festival of Monmouth County first held at Park Avenue School in Freehold in 2005. The event moved to downtown Freehold in 2008.

Latino Festival of Monmouth County Film Schedule

(All films will be shown at the Center Playhouse)

• Altiplano – Friday, Sept. 30 at 7 p.m.
• The Perfect Game – Saturday, Oct. 1 at 11 a.m.
• Nada+ - Saturday, Oct. 1 at 3 p.m.
• Nueve Reinas – Saturday, Oct. 1 at 7 p.m.
• The Devil’s Miner – Saturday, Oct. 2 at 2 p.m.