How Los Angeles' Fiesta Broadway Performed Its Revival After a 4-Year Hiatus

Not all events canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic had a comeback story. Fiesta Broadway, back after a four-year hiatus in Los Angeles, will get one.

For more than 25 years, Fiesta Broadway has become an annual Cinco de Mayo event in downtown Los Angeles, reuniting thousands of Angelenos for a day of food, music and children's activities. All of that came to a screeching halt when the pandemic shut down all live events in 2020. “You could tell Los Angeles felt empty, a lack of celebration of unity,” he says. Luis Medinapresident and executive producer of Uno Productions (one of the event's production companies), who adds that previous editions have drawn about 100,000.

Now managed by All Access Talent and Uno Productions, Fiesta Broadway organizers have gone on to launch the free event, bringing back the festival's original producers.

“There's no one who could help us more than the people who created the festival,” says Medina, noting that joining forces with previous producers was a key strategy for reviving Fiesta Broadway. Additionally, the support of Los Angeles City Council Member for District 14, Kevin de Leon. Once city officials greenlit his return, they had six months to plan and execute.

“Our phones have been flooded with many artists and organizations, including media and sponsors, wanting to be a part of our comeback,” adds Medina. “What makes Fiesta Broadway the beloved event it's recognized for is that it's made for the people. Bringing the community together, seeing artists that would be a little hard to see in concert, bringing food from different cultures and reminding people that home is in Los Angeles.”

This year, Alex Lora of the rock band El TRI, will be the 2024 Grand Marshal, a recognition of heritage artists who have contributed to the Hispanic community in the United States. This version, which will take up four blocks of Broadway St. on Sunday (April 28), there will also be performances by Mexican actor and singer Pablo Montero, Graciela Beltran and Leonardo Torres, accompanied by Mariachi Juvenil Nuevo Grullense. Other confirmed acts include Juanito El Millonzuki, Rocío “La Dama de la Cumbia” and more.

Whether or not Fiesta Broadway is coming back for good, it's too early to tell. “[This year] it is additionally a learning experience on how we can stay updated with the new era and keep the festival popular with the younger generation as well,” says Medina.