Salvadorans in Los Angeles - and throughout the United States - will celebrate Salvadoran Day this weekend in parallel with the Patron Saint Festivities of the Cuscatleca capital that honors the Savior of the World, patron saint of the Central American country.
On Los Angeles soil, the celebrations, organized by UNICOMDES USA (Communities Unit of El Salvador), will be on Saturday, August 8 and Sunday, August 9 on Venice Boulevard.
The event, the oldest and most popular for Salvadorans abroad, will feature guest artists, typical food, dances, craft sales, cultural presentations, mechanical games and a large number of resources for attendees, in addition to the expected live representation of the Transfiguration of the Divine Savior of the World.
“This weekend we are going to have two days of festivity, where you will find a lot of fun, music with local artists from Los Angeles and El Salvador, in addition the community will have the opportunity to interact with our sponsors and vendors, it will be a great party for everyone,” the executive director of UNICOMDES USA, Wendy Carolina Villalta, told La Opinión.
Salvadoran Day returns after a year of absence, after the traditional holiday was suspended in 2025 as a precaution due to the wave of immigration raids that occurred in Southern California.
Villalta explained that this edition will include several new features, including small stages distributed along the route so that children and adolescents can learn more about Salvadoran culture.
“We will have the main stage with great performances by Salvadoran artists such as Ligia Morales (former vocalist of the Salsa Clave group), a second stage where the Transfiguration of the Divine Savior of the World will take place on Sunday and many surprises,” added the director.
The religious event will begin on Sunday around 4:45 in the afternoon with a procession between Venice and Vermont streets.
decades of history
The festival, considered the oldest and most recognized of the Salvadoran community in the United States, was celebrated for the first time in 1998 and over time it became a cultural meeting space for thousands of Salvadorans abroad, as well as the ideal setting for new generations to connect with their roots and traditions.
On July 18, 2006, the event was recognized by the US Congress and declared August 6 as Salvadoran American Day.
"We invite the entire Latin community, not just the Salvadoran one, because we Salvadorans have that idiosyncrasy of loving everyone. We invite you to come with the whole family to enjoy the event, it is a cultural event where we want to feel pampered and pamper everyone who attends the festivities," Villalta concluded.
According to the official event site, more than 100,000 attendees are expected throughout the weekend.
The event is free on both days.
