Mark your calendars and make your plans for the Latin Festival at the Peace Plaza, downtown Rochester on Saturday, September 14th! The Alliance of Chicanos, Hispanics, and Latin Americans (ACHLAS) is hosting a great afternoon of celebration and good times. 

Get ready to get lost in the vibrant Latino culture with traditional dances, authentic food, and an amazing atmosphere from 12 P.M. to 6 P.M. This year’s festival holds extra significance as it marks the third anniversary of this beautiful event. The organizers encourage everyone to join in the fun by wearing traditional clothing from Latin America, but don’t worry if you don’t have any; there will be vendors offering stunning traditional outfits for those interested. Best of all, this event is free for all attendees, and parking will also be free. 

After  you’ve finished checking out all of the displays and the things for sale by the vendors, you and your friends can join in the fun on the dance floor! 

Luz Molina affirms that Hispanic culture itself “brings other people together.” She also said that this is the perfect time to hold this ACHLA festival, since the majority of Hispanic countries gained their independence during the month of September. 

Molina also hinted at the possible appearance of Rochester’s Mayor, Kim Norton at this year’s Latin festival. Molina is not the only one proudly taking part in this; Mr. Joel Campos said that “all Latinos constantly look for reasons to celebrate and unite other communities together.” His advice to any attendees is to “just have fun, let loose, learn about people’s cultures while also growing your connections with other people, small businesses and corporations.”

So, it should be clear by now that the ACHLAS Latin Festival is an annual event that encourages the recognition and celebration of Latino culture. The festival honors and pays tribute to the past generations of Latinos who have made significant contributions to our community. Through various activities, including music, dance, art, and culinary experiences, the festival creates a platform to showcase the rich cultural heritage of Latinos and create a sense of unity and appreciation within the community. 

Everybody in the Latino community strongly asserts that you do not have to be Latino to enjoy this festival, as it focuses on colorful cultures that anyone can enjoy! Ms. Christina Freund believes that going to the Latin Fest is like “traveling to Latin America without stepping foot outside of Rochester, Minnesota!”