PASADENA, Calif.—Join the free family fun at the 21st annual Pasadena Latino Heritage Parade and Festival on Saturday, Oct. 19, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This event is sponsored by the City of Pasadena and the Pasadena Latino Heritage Committee.
More than 2,000 participants and spectators are expected to attend this year's parade and festival. The parade begins at 10 a.m. at Los Robles Avenue and Prescott Street, heading south on Los Robles and ending at Villa-Parke Community Center, 363 E. Villa Street. Street closures and temporary no parking zones will be in effect on Prescott Street, Los Robles Avenue and Villa Street. Street closures will be lifted as the parade clears the area.
Join local school and community groups, elected officials and dignitaries, neighbors and friends at the annual parade celebrating this year’s theme, “Latinos in the 21st Century.” The parade’s Grand Marshal is Laura Farber, the first Latina woman elected as Tournament of Roses president. Farber is a partner in the Pasadena law firm Hahn & Hahn, where she practices civil litigation with an emphasis in employment disputes. In addition to her many years of service with the Tournament of Roses, Farber volunteers with various nonprofit organizations worldwide and holds a number of volunteer leadership roles with the American Bar Association. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Farber’s native language is Spanish. She earned her bachelor’s degree cum laude with departmental highest honors from the University of California, Los Angeles, and her juris doctor cum laude from Georgetown University. Farber lives locally with her family and is passionate about the community and the impact of volunteerism.
The Community Grand Marshal is Dr. Cynthia Olivo, vice president of student services at Pasadena City College, which has an active student body of over 30,000 diverse students. Dr. Olivo is the granddaughter of migrant farm workers and is a third generation Mexican American. She was raised by a single mother and was the first in her family to go to college. Dr. Olivo earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in science in counseling from California State University, San Bernardino, and a Ph.D. in education with an emphasis in urban leadership from Claremont Graduate University. Dr. Olivo has made access to college her life’s work and her impact on the community will continue for years to come.
Immediately following the parade, a festival featuring live entertainment, educational booths, free activities for children, and food available for purchase will take place at Villa-Parke Community Center. Don’t miss La Sonora Dinamita’s live performance from 2:30-4 p.m. Admission to the festival is free.
Stay connected to the City of Pasadena! Visit us online at www.cityofpasadena.net; follow us on Twitter at @PasadenaGov, and Instagram and Facebook at @CityOfPasadena; or call the Citizen Service Center, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday at (626) 744-7311.