Created in honor of Latin music icon Tito Puente, this series celebrates years of bringing live Latin music with a strong salsa influence to Boston parks. The series is sponsored in part by:

• Berklee College of Music, and
• Inquilinos Boricuas en Accion.
• Free salsa lessons are led by MetaMovements.

Manolo Mairena, a native of Costa Rica, came to the United States at the age of sixteen and settled in Worcester, Massachusetts. He began his musical career at 21 as a percussionist, performing traditional Puerto Rican music with renowned musician Miguel Almestica. Word of his talent spread quickly, and soon, Latin bands across Boston were eager to recruit him. Over the years, Mairena has performed with numerous acclaimed groups, including Tropical Sound, Mango Blue, Gonzalo Grau y La Clave Secreta, Manguito, Balatón, I-Level, Combo Sabroso, Eguie Castrillo, and his own band.

Immersed in Boston’s rich cultural diversity and deeply inspired by his own musical roots, Mairena has become a dedicated student and passionate performer of Afro-Caribbean and Latin American music.

Over time, Mairena also developed as a vocalist and has been involved in a wide range of musical projects. He had the honor of recording a medley of boleros as a tribute to the late Tito Rodríguez, appearing as a guest artist with renowned percussionist Eguie Castrillo & His Orquestra. Among his many collaborations, he contributed to Frutero Moderno by La Clave Secreta, which was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Tropical Album. He also recorded as a soloist on La Pasión Según San Marcos, a celebrated work which he has performed around the world.

Mairena has had the privilege of performing at remarkable events alongside many talented friends in some of the world’s most iconic venues and festivals. His journey has taken him to the Sydney Opera House in Australia, the Benny Moré Festival in Cienfuegos, Cuba, the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, and the Blue Frog Acoustic Lounge and Studios in Mumbai, India. He has also appeared at the Heineken Jazz Festival in Puerto Rico, the Centro de Convenciones in Cartagena, Colombia, Teatro Colón in Argentina, the Festival of World Cultures in Ireland, and the Toros y Salsa Festival in France. In the UK, he has performed at both the Barbican Theatre and the Glastonbury Festival. His international performances extend to Spain, the Canary Islands, the Netherlands, Ecuador, Chile, and Mexico, which is a testament to his global reach and the universal appeal of his music.

Mairena has released three productions: Mi Oportunidad (2008), De Todo Un Poco (2018), and Esto es lo que hay (2023). Currently, Mairena is working on his fourth album, Sin Miedo, on which he is featured as a composer, arranger, singer, and percussionist.

The BCYF Paris Street Pool, located at 113 Paris Street in East Boston, will reopen with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, July 6, at 10:30 a.m., following a $8.9 million, three year renovation. All are invited to the celebration.

The building was completely renovated including upgrades to the mechanical systems, bathrooms and locker rooms, and the pool. There is a modified main entrance and lobby area, reconfigured interior spaces and exterior upgrades which make it a more inviting and user-friendly space.

There will be no charge for membership or programming but visitors need to create a membership at Boston.gov/BCYF-Registration. Registration for classes and programs can be found on the pool’s webpage, Boston.gov/BCYF-Paris-Street-Pool, once the pool opens.

Our arts and crafts workshops are led by local artists. They're held Tuesday through Friday in July and August and run from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. These drop-in workshops encourage kids to explore their creativity through projects like mask making, crayon art, watercolor and much more. Supplies are provided, but you'll need to bring your creativity! 

This series is completely free and open to Boston residents. These workshops will take place in various parks throughout the City of Boston.

Pre-registration is required for groups of 8 or more. Please email allison.singer2@boston.gov to register.

This series is also weather-dependent. Check our social media pages for updated weather info regarding this series. Follow us on social media for the latest updates on events: Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.