Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
Festival to showcase Latino culture
|
Erin C. Perkins
Staff Reporter
Juan Rivas believes in celebrating life and the communities where he and his neighbors call home. Bringing together those philosophies are the primary ingredients in Saturday's � Latino Festival.”
“The purpose of the Latino Festival is to bring the whole community together to have fun because we are living in hard times,” said Rivas, who is a member of Casa Guanajuato, a nonprofit organization that promotes Latino culture and tradition.
The festival will highlight various facets of Latino culture including food, music, dance and costumes. The festival coincides with Mexican Independence Day on Sept. 16, which celebrates the beginning of an 1810 revolt against Spanish rule.
The event, organized by members of Casa Guanajuato and musical guest DJ Junior, is expected to draw hundreds of people to Veterans Memorial Park to celebrate and listen to Mexican consul Aramando Ortiz Rocha.
“It is an honor to have a member of the Mexican consulate,” said Rivas.
The 12-hour event will include 15 musical groups, four dance groups, a rodeo with five bulls and a grand finale of fireworks.
Rivas said the audience will especially enjoy the dancers, who will showcase various dances passed down generation to generation.
“They can see the evolving history Latino culture through dancing,” he said.
There also will be a free taste contest for 50 different mole dishes. Mole is a Mexican national dish similar to chili, Rivas said.
Rivas said it's important for the Mount Airy community to unite to “share cultures and traditions.”
Latinos are the fastest growing segment of Surry County's population, The U.S. Census Bureau reports that 6,000 Surry County residents - or about 8.5 percent - are Hispanic.
“We want everyone there,” Rivas said. “It's not about color.”
Casa Guanajuato's goal is to build a bridge between the Latinos and the rest of the community. Rivas said the organization's efforts are to “romper el hielo” or “break the ice.”
“The heart of the Mayberry community is friendliness,” said Rivas, who grew up watching “The Andy Griffith Show” in Mexico. “And that's what we want.”
Contact Erin Perkins at eperkins@mtairynews.com, or at 719-1952.
Staff Reporter
Juan Rivas believes in celebrating life and the communities where he and his neighbors call home. Bringing together those philosophies are the primary ingredients in Saturday's � Latino Festival.”
“The purpose of the Latino Festival is to bring the whole community together to have fun because we are living in hard times,” said Rivas, who is a member of Casa Guanajuato, a nonprofit organization that promotes Latino culture and tradition.
The festival will highlight various facets of Latino culture including food, music, dance and costumes. The festival coincides with Mexican Independence Day on Sept. 16, which celebrates the beginning of an 1810 revolt against Spanish rule.
The event, organized by members of Casa Guanajuato and musical guest DJ Junior, is expected to draw hundreds of people to Veterans Memorial Park to celebrate and listen to Mexican consul Aramando Ortiz Rocha.
“It is an honor to have a member of the Mexican consulate,” said Rivas.
The 12-hour event will include 15 musical groups, four dance groups, a rodeo with five bulls and a grand finale of fireworks.
Rivas said the audience will especially enjoy the dancers, who will showcase various dances passed down generation to generation.
“They can see the evolving history Latino culture through dancing,” he said.
There also will be a free taste contest for 50 different mole dishes. Mole is a Mexican national dish similar to chili, Rivas said.
Rivas said it's important for the Mount Airy community to unite to “share cultures and traditions.”
Latinos are the fastest growing segment of Surry County's population, The U.S. Census Bureau reports that 6,000 Surry County residents - or about 8.5 percent - are Hispanic.
“We want everyone there,” Rivas said. “It's not about color.”
Casa Guanajuato's goal is to build a bridge between the Latinos and the rest of the community. Rivas said the organization's efforts are to “romper el hielo” or “break the ice.”
“The heart of the Mayberry community is friendliness,” said Rivas, who grew up watching “The Andy Griffith Show” in Mexico. “And that's what we want.”
Contact Erin Perkins at eperkins@mtairynews.com, or at 719-1952.
 |
||
| City prepares for Latino festival |
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of mtairynews.com.
