South Bronx Culture Festival 2025

Since 2011 Casita Maria’s South Bronx Culture Festival (SBCF) has celebrated the vibrant cultures and communities of the South Bronx through an annual performance series anchored by a new theme each year. Our 2025 theme Play it Forward amplifies the act of creative play in the arts resulting in joy celebration and inspiration for the next generation of artists. The Festival line-up includes music art and dance forms from homegrown hip hop and Latin Jazz to the diasporas of Argentina Brazil Cuba Mexico and Puerto Rico. Headliners include a Tribute to the Musical Legacy of Eddie Palmieri Nelson González All Star Band and Casita Maria’s Latin jazz ensemble Bronx Banda featuring Arturo O’Farrill. Additional artists include Alí Bello & The Charanga Syndicate Bombazo Dance Company Bronx Community Collage Full Circle Souljahs GrandWizzard Theodore Jenn Jade & “JADE 8!” Lulada Club National Double Dutch League Sofía Rei Uptown Vinyl Supreme Villalobos Brothers and the Young Artists of Casita Maria. 

SBCF 2025 the only event of its kind in Hunts Point / Longwood will showcase the work that we do throughout the year teaching and inspiring young artists documenting the history of the Bronx through music and dance and maintaining partnerships with local artists and organizations as we enrich and elevate our beloved community. Presented free to the public the 3-day SBCF includes outdoor music and dance performances and art activities from May 30 to June 1 2025 at Father Gigante Plaza in front of St. Athanasius Church at 878 Tiffany Street in the South Bronx. Everyone is welcome to attend the Festival in person or to watch at a later date via our media partner BronxNet Television. Last year’s SBCF 2024 drew an enthusiastic audience of 5000 residents. 

Additional partnering organizations will create even more joy and activities for the community: The POINT CDC and Hunts Point Community Partnership will both table and lead art activities; Puerto Rican Institute for the Development of the Arts (PRIDA) will present a collective of artisan vendors; Casita Maria’s own Teaching Artist Maria Luisa Portuondo Vila will lead a hands-on art activity; Bronx Community Collage will lead a collective collage making activity; and the New York Public Library will park their bookmobile near the stage. SoulBites will be returning as the food vendor for the weekend.

This SBCF would not be possible without the support and generosity of partners including SEBCO Inc. who allows us to use Father Gigante Plaza for free. This program is supported in part by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) in partnership with the City Council and Council Member Rafael Salamanca Jr. Additional support is provided by the Howard Gilman Foundation Rockefeller Brothers Fund and the WMG BFF Social Justice Fund. This event is part of Carnegie Hall's Nuestros sonidos festival.