Raíces, Ritmos & Recuerdos (roots, rhythms and memories) filled Lock 3 park downtown Saturday as the 2025 Akron Latin Festival put Latin American culture on full display.

Festival highlights included food and retail vendors, music and activities — Proyecto Raices, Downtown Akron Partnership and the City of Akron are the main sponsors of the event.

Flags representing countries from Latin America are displayed during a welcoming ceremony at Raíces, Ritmos & Recuerdos: Akron Latin Festival 2025.
Flags representing countries from Latin America are displayed during a welcoming ceremony at Raíces, Ritmos & Recuerdos: Akron Latin Festival 2025. (Michael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)
Funky Bacalao from Coral Springs, Florida, left, shows off her Puerto Rican pride at the Akron Latin Festival. Bacalao was in town to watch her father, who is a member of the musical group Conjunto Guarachando.
Funky Bacalao from Coral Springs, Florida, left, shows off her Puerto Rican pride at the Akron Latin Festival. Bacalao was in town to watch her father, who is a member of the musical group Conjunto Guarachando. (Michael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)
Salsa band Conjunto Guarachando performs on the Lock 3 stage during Akron's Latin Festival.
Salsa band Conjunto Guarachando performs on the Lock 3 stage during Akron’s Latin Festival. (Michael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)
La Rosita Snacks makes Mexican Street Corn during Raíces, Ritmos & Recuerdos: Akron Latin Festival 2025 at Lock 3 park.
La Rosita Snacks makes Mexican Street Corn during Raíces, Ritmos & Recuerdos: Akron Latin Festival 2025 at Lock 3 park. (Michael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)
NEO Pro wrestlers showed off their acrobatics during the Raíces, Ritmos & Recuerdos: Akron Latin Festival 2025 at Lock 3 park.
NEO Pro wrestlers showed off their acrobatics during the Raíces, Ritmos & Recuerdos: Akron Latin Festival 2025 at Lock 3 park. (Michael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)
Five year old Harper Wadsworth takes a big swing at a pinata during the Raíces, Ritmos & Recuerdos: Akron Latin Festival at Lock 3.
Five year old Harper Wadsworth takes a big swing at a pinata during the Raíces, Ritmos & Recuerdos: Akron Latin Festival at Lock 3. (Michael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)
The co-owner of El Rinconcito makes some tacos al pastor during Akron's Latin Festival Raíces, Ritmos & Recuerdos.
The co-owner of Tacos el Rinconcito makes some tacos al pastor during Akron’s Latin Festival Raíces, Ritmos & Recuerdos. (Michael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)
Attendees gathered at Lock 3's Maynard Performance Pavilion to watch music and cultural performances during the Raíces, Ritmos & Recuerdos: Akron Latin Festival 2025.
Attendees gather at Lock 3’s Maynard Performance Pavilion to watch music and cultural performances during the Raíces, Ritmos & Recuerdos: Akron Latin Festival 2025. (Michael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)
Fluvia Mendez, left, and Alejandra Mendez look at ceramics made in Peru during Akron's Latin Festival, Raíces, Ritmos & Recuerdos.
Fluvia Mendez, left, and Alejandra Mendez look at ceramics made in Peru during Akron’s Latin Festival, Raíces, Ritmos & Recuerdos. (Michael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)
An Aztec dancer's elaborate headdress is on display at Akron's Latin Festival, Raíces, Ritmos & Recuerdos.
An Aztec dancer’s elaborate headdress is on display at Akron’s Latin Festival, Raíces, Ritmos & Recuerdos. (Michael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)

Editor-in-Chief (she/her)
Zake has deep roots in Northeast Ohio journalism. She was the managing editor for multimedia and special projects at the Akron Beacon Journal, where she began work as a staff photographer in 1986. Over a 20-year career, Zake worked in a variety of roles across departments that all help inform her current role as Signal Akron's editor in chief. Most recently, she was a journalism professor and student media adviser at Kent State University, where she worked with the next generation of journalists to understand public policy, environmental reporting, data and solutions reporting. Among her accomplishments was the launch of the Kent State NewsLab, an experiential and collaborative news commons that connects student reporters with outside professional partners.