10-year-old Olivia Delgado represents Costa Rica during the flag ceremony at the 2026 Latin Fest at Lock 3 Saturday in downtown Akron. The sixth annual festival is a celebration of the food, music and art of Akron's Hispanic community. (Michael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)
Food, music and dancing all marked the sixth-annual Akron Latin Festival, held at Lock 3 downtown.
The event was presented by Proyecto RAICES and the Downtown Akron Partnership and featured vendors, performers and pro wrestling. The opening ceremony featured a presentation of flags from different Latin American countries.
A time to dance with Amy and Kobe perform during the 2026 Latin Fest at Lock 3 Saturday in downtown Akron. The sixth-annual festival is a celebration of the food, music and art of Akron’s Hispanic community. (Michael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)Dominic Caruso of the Downtown Akron Partnership holds up a Luchador pinata during the 2026 Latin Fest at Lock 3 in Akron The sixth annual festival is a celebration of the food, music and art of Akron’s Hispanic community. (Michael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)Monica Berrios, owner of La Reina Boricua — “the Puerto Rican queen” restaurant — dances to some Caribbean music at the 2026 Latin Fest at Lock 3 in downtown Akron. The sixth-annual festival is a celebration of the food, music and art of Akron’s Hispanic community. (Michael McElroy / Signal Akron)Latin City Soul performs during the 2026 Latin Fest at Lock 3 in downtown Akron. The sixth-annual festival is a celebration of the food, music and art of Akron’s Hispanic community. (Michael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)Mi Patio offers religious statues and devotional objects for sale at their booth during the 2026 Latin Fest Saturday, Sept. 19 at Lock 3 in downtown Akron. The sixth-annual festival is a celebration of the food, music and art of Akron’s Hispanic community. (Michael McElroy / Signal Akron)Workers at the Pupusas Salvadorenas stand prepare a selection of dishes at the 2026 Latin Fest at Lock 3 in Akron, Ohio. The sixth annual festival is a celebration of the food, music and art of Akron’s Hispanic community. (Michael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)Paul Colon represents Puerto Rico at the 2026 Latin Fest at Lock 3 Sept. 19 in downtown Akron. The sixth annual festival is a celebration of the food, music and art of Akron’s Hispanic community. (Michael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)Akron Mayor Shammas Malik takes to the stage to welcome the Latin community during the 2026 Latin Fest at Lock 3 in Akron, Ohio. The sixth annual festival is a celebration of the food, music and art of Akron’s Hispanic community. (Michael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)Three-year-old Alexia Ingman gets ready to take her turn hitting the pinata at the 2026 Latin Fest at Lock 3 Saturday in downtown Akron. The sixth annual festival is a celebration of the food, music and art of Akron’s Hispanic community. (Michael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)
Michael is a documentary photographer who explores how culture and the environment are shaped by change.
His work focuses on deeply rooted cultural traditions, the
landscapes and communities that inhabit them and questions how heritage is preserved, adapted, or lost in the face of demographic shifts and global influences.
Through photography, he seeks to create visual narratives that pay homage to cultural heritage while examining the pressing challenges posed by the influences of globalization and the divide it creates between younger and older generations.
