Border Street

Every summer, East Boston finds another reason to throw one of the city's liveliest neighborhood parties. Festival Viva Colombia transforms the waterfront into a celebration of Colombian culture, where live music, folkloric dance and the smell of fresh arepas compete for your attention from the moment you arrive. The performances are only part of the draw. Local artisans, community organizations and food vendors give the festival the feel of a gathering created by and for the neighborhood, making it just as easy to strike up a conversation as it is to catch a dance performance. Whether you stop by for lunch or spend the afternoon exploring, it's a reminder that some of Boston's most rewarding festivals aren't the biggest, they're the ones rooted in the communities that bring them to life.