Northwest Florida
Boricuas Ausentes, Inc.

Presenters of 2010 Latin Salsa Festival

About NWFBA, Inc.

The Northwest Florida Boricuas Ausentes, Inc. (NWFBA), is a non-profit organization founded in 2008 by Fort Walton Beach resident, Jose L. Garcia Ramos (Arecibo, PR). NWFBA's goal is to share the Puerto Rican, Taino cultures and ethnic flavors of our enchanted island with the North West Florida communities, no matter their ethnicity.

NWFBA, Inc. successfully celebrated its first ever Boricuas Ausentes in June 2008 on Okaloosa Island at the Eglin AFB All Ranks Beach Park. Over 500 people attended the festival enjoying several activities throughout the day; including DJ & live music, salsa dance contests, folkloric dancers and performances by the popular local band TropiSound.

With such a positive response from the community and neighboring states of Georgia, Alabama and even as far as Louisiana, NWFBA, Inc. celebrated its 2nd annual Boricuas Ausentes Day, newly named the Latin Salsa Festival, on Saturday, June 13, 2009. A beautiful day filled with great Caribbean food, a variety of local and out-of-town vendors, fun kid activities and salsa music beating throughout the crowd and enjoyed, according to some, by more than 1500 people, at the FWB Landing Park, located in downtown in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.

On June 19, 2010 NWFBA proudly celebrated its 3rd Latin Salsa Festival with great live entertainment performances by:
- Cecille with the Rainel Pino
Orchestra
- Jones and Company
- Ritmo y Sabor
- DJ Ill Will
- DJ Maximus
- DJ Nikan
- DJ NC Roy
Activities, performances and exotic foods drew in a crowd of more than 2000 people to the Fort Walton Beach Landing.
There were several generous donations given from local merchants as well as a ONE WEEK BEACH CONDO STAY in Isabela, Puerto Rico (donated by Chris Fernandez Rentals).