For Arielis Pena, a high school senior, the Heritage Festival was more than just an event. It was a celebration of family and identity.
The Heritage Festival was held on Thursday, May 8 outside of Town Hall, as students manned booths with posters and food to represent their culture and heritage.
Pena and her friends hosted a table representing the Dominican Republic. They were serving plantains with salami, chicken, rice, beans and other authentic dishes.
“I just want to spread my culture,” Pena said. “It’s important to us.”
Arielis Avalo, a freshman who made the plantains and salami dish, said the festival is another way for “more people to know about me and my culture.”
The Students of Color Association (SOCA), Swampscott Unites, Respects and Embraces (S.U.R.E.) and the Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity (METCO) students created the Heritage Festival in 2019. That year, just a few tables were set up in the high school lobby after school, as students and staff shared aspects of their own heritage through food, information and cultural items.
“Especially in today’s world where we’re trying to really get to understand each other and know each other, this is able to show that we’re all different. We’re all from different places,” said Krista Lynch, the district co-director of METCO.
Now, six years later, the Heritage Festival has grown significantly and is held outside at Town Hall for a Swampscott-wide celebration.
“It shows how diverse Swampscott has come over the years,” said Temi Bailey, the district co-director of METCO. “Especially for people new to the town, moving to the area, they’ll be able to hopefully meet and see people that feel comfortable.”
A dunk tank, which teachers sat inside, raised money for SOCA students. The funds are split into scholarships as well as support for college visits, according to Bailey.
The Town Hall lawn was filled with flags as well as tables manned by students and community members, representing each nation. Countries represented ranged from Brazil to Italy and from Crimea to Puerto Rico.
The Ibrahimovs family represented Crimea, and they made traditional cookies that are usually served at weddings.
Sophomores Nico Croft and Alex Levine made falafel and latkes for their Jewish student union table.
“Spreading the culture around town is always good,” Croft said.
