BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Three salsa maestros will reunite this weekend at the Stacks.
Puerto Rican performers Pablo Batista, Hector Rosado and Luisito Rosario will headline ArtsQuest's ¡Sabor! Latin Festival — which kicks off Thursday night and is now in its 13th year.
Batista and Rosado, percussionists from Bethlehem, are known as pioneers of the local Latin music scene — specifically salsa sounds from la Isla del Encanto.
Rosario, a salsa singer with his local fan base, has toured with the Larry Harlow Orchestra and Grupo Hechizo, and Los Hermanos Moreno, before breaking out as a solo artist in 2001.
Their performance, which will take place at 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 29, marks the first time the longtime pals will perform onstage together.
Puerto Rican flag, Copa match
The festival begins on Thursday, June 27 with a screening of the Copa América soccer match against Panama and the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team at 6 p.m. Thursday onscreen at Levitt Pavilion).
Following the game, Herencia Jibara will perform starting at 8 p.m. the Levitt Pavilion. The festivities continue with a 90-minute set by DJ Breezzy at the Highmark Blue Shield Community Stage.
On Friday, June 28, there will be a Puerto Rican flag-raising ceremony (with performances of the Puerto Rican and U.S. national anthems) at 5:30 p.m.
The flag raising precedes a 90-minute concert by East Coast Salsa Scene at the Highmark Blue Shield Community Stage.
Also on Friday night: Local group Combo Melaza will perform starting at 8 p.m. followed by a performance by Pancho Bongo y su Orquesta at 10 p.m. (both performances will be at the Levitt Pavilion).
Saturday's lineup includes Viva Vallenato at the Highmark Blue Shield Community Stage at 4 p.m.; Fabricio Orihuela at the Levitt Pavilion stage at 5 p.m.; Jimmy Bosch Salsa Masters at 6:30 p.m. at Highmark Blue Shield Community Stage; Rosado, Batista and Rosario at 8 p.m. at the Levitt Pavilion stage and Mambo Caliente at 10 p.m. at Highmark Blue Shield Community Stage.
Rum-inspired recipes, empanadillas
Returning this year is the Brugal Lounge, a free tasting spot that will include a variety of Brugal rums for sampling for the 21-and-over crowd.
Additionally, Latin-inspired food will be served by Hogar Crea, offering shish kabobs; Holy Infancy will offer tacos, pastelillos, bacalaitos (fried cod fritters), empanadillas, and tostones; and La Frikitona will offer Cuban sandwiches, pan con bistec, bistec encebollado, and platano maduros.
For a full schedule, go to steelstacks.org/festivals/sabor-latin-festival.