LATAM VIVE has closed its first edition with an extraordinarily positive balance after two days in which Latin pride shone with its own light. The festival registered a total of 9,368 tickets and more than fulfilled the purpose for which it was born: to offer the Latin American community of Lanzarote and La Graciosa its own space for recognition, meeting, and celebration, open to the entire society of both islands.
During Saturday, October 10th, and Sunday, October 11th, the Arrecife fairgrounds were transformed into an authentic showcase of Latin America's cultural richness. Accents, rhythms, colors, aromas, and flavors from different countries mingled in an atmosphere of contagious joy, emotion, and a sense of belonging.
Walking through LATAM VIVE was much more than attending a festival. It was discovering shared stories, reconnecting with roots, celebrating diversity, and seeing how culture is capable of building bridges between people of different generations and nationalities.
Entire families, groups of friends, young and old made their own a space that, for two days, became a small Latin America in the heart of Lanzarote, in Arrecife.
But, above all, LATAM VIVE left an unforgettable image: that of thousands of people dancing, singing, sharing, and celebrating together, regardless of their age or origin. A collective experience full of Latin soul, energy, and good vibes that turned the festival's premiere into a true celebration of diversity, integration, and coexistence.
Oswaldo Betancort: "The Latin community is also our community"
The president of the Cabildo of Lanzarote and La Graciosa, Oswaldo Betancort, experienced the extraordinary atmosphere of LATAM VIVE firsthand and wanted to share that enthusiasm with the public, taking the stage with the first deputy mayor of Arrecife, Echedey Eugenio, during one of the most emotional moments of the celebration.
"LATAM VIVE has been one of the most special and inspiring moments I have experienced as president during this term at the insular level. Seeing so many people enjoying themselves together, sharing their roots, their traditions, and their joy, and feeling the pride with which the Latin American community has made this space their own, is truly moving," highlighted the president.
Oswaldo Betancort underlined that the festival responds to a commitment made with the Latin American community residing in Lanzarote and La Graciosa. "We committed to responding to a demand that had been raised for some time: to have a space for meeting, visibility, and recognition for a community that is an essential part of our islands. And we have kept our word. Because the Latin community is also our community, it is part of who we are and it contributes every day to building this land."
"What we have experienced these two days shows that integration consists not only in living together, but also in sharing, getting to know each other, celebrating together, and feeling part of the same place. LATAM VIVE was born with that vocation and has shown that it has a huge path ahead," added the president.
For his part, the project coordinator, Carlos Alférez, expressed his satisfaction with the extraordinary reception of LATAM VIVE and highlighted that "the festival has managed to translate into reality the spirit with which it was conceived: to celebrate Latin American roots and share everything that unites us, and that is precisely what we have achieved with LATAM VIVE: that people from different countries, cultures, and generations meet, enjoy, and feel part of the same celebration," said Alférez, who thanked the involvement of the public and all the people who made this premiere possible.
Javier Vásquez and El Jeffrey, protagonists of two days of music, dance, and talent
Music was one of the great driving forces of LATAM VIVE, with a program that combined international artists, local talent, dance, traditional rhythms, urban proposals, and DJ sets.
On Sunday, Javier Vásquez starred in one of the most anticipated moments of the festival, with a performance that made the audience vibrate to the rhythm of salsa and tropical sounds. The day also featured the Orquesta Son de Aquí y Allá, which brought all the energy of live Latin music, and the choreographies of Soy Colombia Danza, a display of Colombian expressiveness and traditions, and the elegance of Ensamble Tango Lanzarote, which brought the passion of Argentine tango to the stage.
Emerging talent also found its space with the urban performances of Geram, El Lince de la Canción, Stif, Johan Crissaga, Loboa, and Candela Latina, a reflection of the new forms of musical expression and the diversity of styles that coexist in contemporary Latin culture.
The sessions of DJ Chalo from La Más Latina, DJ Marino from La Clave Estéreo, DJ Esteban from Radio Nueva Moda, and DJ Chivo contributed to maintaining the festive atmosphere, while DJ Tony Saoco's Viejoteca got the audience dancing with great Latin music classics.
On Saturday, the festival had kicked off with the music of Mariachi Azteca, followed by the color and energy of the Dominican Parade, one of the most spectacular expressions of the celebration. The programming continued with Dani Valiente, DJ Kero's sets, the musical offering of La K'Onga, from Argentina, and one of the main attractions of this edition: El Jeffrey, "El Canta Lindo," a reference of Dominican merengue, who delighted the audience with his repertoire.
Two days of music, dance, and talent, with presenter Juan Carlos Torres as master of ceremonies, which reflected the extraordinary diversity of Latin American artistic expressions and turned the LATAM VIVE stage into a space for shared celebration.
A feast for the senses and for the little ones
Gastronomy was another of the great attractions of LATAM VIVE, with an authentic journey through culinary aromas, flavors, and traditions led by Kikiriki (Colombia), El Granaino (Venezuela), El Punto Sabroso (Peru), El Guaro (Ecuador), Valles Eventos (Argentina), RM Group (Mexico), Mi Niña Café (Cuba), and La Esquina de Papo (Dominican Republic), and with the assortment of sweets from Pastelería Arjery, from Arrecife.
Each of these establishments contributed an essential part to the soul of the festival, turning their stalls into small gastronomic embassies where traditional recipes, characteristic products, and the care put into each preparation awakened the appetite and curiosity of the public. An irresistible invitation to taste, discover, and share, which made gastronomy an opportunity to get closer to other traditions.
Families also found a children's area with inflatables, face painting, and balloon twisting that allowed children to enjoy their own party. Their presence and enthusiasm were another of the most endearing images of a festival designed for all ages.
LATAM VIVE exceeds 9,300 registered entries
The first edition of LATAM VIVE closed its two days of celebration with 9,368 registered entries, according to official access control data provided by GIS Seguridad Privada.
On Saturday, October 10, 4,272 entries were counted, while on Sunday the 11th, the figure rose to 5,096, representing an increase of 19% compared to the opening day and confirming the excellent public response to this new cultural and musical offering from Lanzarote and La Graciosa.
These figures reflect the convocatoria capacity of LATAM VIVE, which managed to increase its participation on the second day and exceed the expectations of its debut.
The success of participation was also reflected on social media, where the involvement of content creators, influencers, media outlets, and the public itself contributed to amplifying the festival's impact and projecting the celebration of Latin pride far beyond the Arrecife fairgrounds.
A collective success that recognizes those who made it possible
LATAM VIVE, organized by Preventos Media, has had the sponsorship of the Cabildo de Lanzarote, through the Area of Economic Promotion; the Centers of Art, Culture and Tourism; and SPEL-Turismo Lanzarote.
The organization extends special thanks to the sponsoring institutions, collaborating private companies, artists and participants, and all the teams that made the development of both days possible.
Recognition extends to the security, emergency, bar, catering, cleaning, restroom, and auxiliary service staff; to the production, assembly, lighting, and sound professionals; and to each of the gastronomic stalls, which contributed flavor, authenticity, and a fundamental part of the festival's success.
Also to the media, audiovisual professionals, and all those who contributed to giving visibility to the event, and to the public and the Latin American community of Lanzarote and La Graciosa, who responded to the call with enthusiasm and turned the festival into a true expression of pride, identity, and belonging.
The organization also wishes to extend a very special thank you to Juan Quintana, of Juan Quintana Productions, for his extraordinary involvement and full willingness to collaborate in whatever was necessary. His artistic animation proposal, with dancers and stilt walkers who interacted with the public, helped fill the venue with spectacle, dynamism, and fantasy. "A contribution that went far beyond the artistic programming and reflects the commitment and dedication of those who made LATAM VIVE their own from the very first moment.
A festival with a charitable soul and sustainable commitment
Solidarity also had its place in this edition of LATAM VIVE, with an initiative aimed at supporting social causes in Venezuela and Colombia.
Through the campaign "Your glass also adds up," the organization offered the public reusable glasses for one euro, sourced from Lava Live Festival, another of the major music events organized by Preventos Media, thus giving these materials a second life and uniting sustainability and social commitment.
This action was complemented by the sale of merchandising products, such as t-shirts, caps, and aprons, the proceeds of which will also be allocated to aid initiatives in both countries, channeled through NGOs and charitable organizations.
In this way, LATAM VIVE wanted the celebration of Latin roots and pride to also have a charitable dimension, demonstrating that culture can be a meeting point, but also a tool to help, share resources, and generate a positive impact beyond the festival.
LATAM VIVE thus bids farewell to its debut with the conviction of having taken an important first step: creating a space where Latin American roots are celebrated without borders and where Lanzarote and La Graciosa recognize, embrace, and make their own the cultural diversity that enriches them.
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