Residents of the Naranjito sector of Caguas, in Puerto Rico, held the first edition of the Festival del Naranjo on Sunday, November 8, at the sector’s basketball court and community center, the cancha y centro comunal Naranjito. Neighbors gathered to offer visitors a range of crafts, food offerings and plants tied to the Christmas season, such as poinsettias (pascuas).
Ramón Negrón, president of the community’s board of directors, said the board decided to hold the festival after seeing that various towns hold festivals dedicated to the elements that represent them, and asked why not hold one for the fruit that represents their sector. Negrón also said the community’s name comes from a stream (quebrada) that crosses the area and was formerly surrounded by orange trees.
According to his account, merchants began using the name "la quebrada Naranjito" as a reference point. The festival was scheduled to run until 6:00 PM, and its organizers hope this first edition will be the start of a new tradition for the community.