JP World’s Fair Revived: Latin Quarter World’s Fair Coming in September

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The defunct Jamaica Plain World Fair will be returning to the neighborhood after a 10-year hiatus, and is being renamed as the Latin Quarter World's Fair (LQWF).

The new version of the fair is scheduled to be on September 15 and will be on Creighton Street to Bynner Street, and also scattered throughout the Blessed Sacrament Campus.

The multicultural celebration will kick-off National Latinx Heritage Month, and recognize the neighborhood’s designation as a Cultural District by both the Mass Cultural Council and Boston, according to a press release.

“The Latin Quarter Cultural District’s new take on the JP World’s Fair will focus on celebrating the neighborhoods long, rich history of Afro-Latin art, culture, food, and music,” said Cisnell Baez, LQWF Committee member and former resident. “By creating spaces and events that are led by the community who lived, work, and own businesses there, we are empowering them to make decisions about their neighborhood.”

Through the years residents and merchants have wanted the fair to return. During its heyday the fair featured more than 20 musical performers, 100 arts and crafts vendors, info booths, and drew crowds of more than 10,000 to the Hyde and Jackson squares area.

"Street festivals have a special energy because it is magical and invigorating to walk down a street that is normally reserved for cars. People in the neighborhood are literally and figuratively freed from normal boundaries and it just opens up to being together in a special way,” said Carol Downs, LQWF Committee member and owner of Bella Luna Restaurant & Milky Way Lounge.

There will a fundraiser for the fair at Tres Gatos on June 25. There will be upcoming community planning meeting on July 22 at the Connolly Library (433 Centre St.) from 6 to 7:45 pm. Please visit latinquarterworldsfair.com or email latinquarterworldsfair@gmail.com for more info.

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