A Taste of Cultura: Latino-Owned Food & Experiences in Springfield, MA
This feature is sponsored by the Legacy Economic Development Corporation (LEDC), an organization dedicated to supporting Springfield micro-businesses and local entrepreneurs. Springfield doesn’t whisper culture, it moves with it. You feel it in the music, you hear it in the conversations, and you taste it in the food. Across the city, Latino-owned businesses are building […]
A Taste of Latino Life in Holyoke
Holyoke isn’t just a city it’s a cultural heartbeat of Puerto Rican life in New England. One of the pioneers of this culinary presence is Fernandez Family Restaurant, established in 1988 by Rafael and his wife. For decades, it has stood as a cornerstone of Puerto Rican cuisine in Holyoke, long before the city became […]
Culture You Can Feel: Events, Music & Traditions
Fiestas Patronales de Holyoke is celebrated every summer, the city explodes with music, flags, dancing and food. Held over four days at the end of July into early August, this festival celebrates Puerto Rican heritage with: It’s loud. It’s colorful. It’s emotional. And it feels like Puerto Rico in the middle of Massachusetts. Noche de […]
The Story Behind the Culture: Diaspora, Identity & Connection
In 2025, Holyoke became the second city in the United States to receive a designated Puerto Rican Cultural District; the first being in Chicago. This recognition formalized what the community has known for decades: Holyoke is a center of Puerto Rican diaspora life. Many families began arriving in the 1950s for mill work. Larger waves […]