FOND DU LAC – This Sunday you get the chance to travel to Latin America with authentic food and music, or join in a shouting match or jalapeño eating contest, all in one place.
The Latin Flavor Festival will offer food, activities and events reminiscent of a traditional Latin American festival from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at Holy Family Church Prayer Garden, 271 Fourth Street Way. The event will be preceded by a bilingual Mass in English and Spanish at 10:00 am.
Previously a Taste of Mexico host, the Catholic Community of the Holy Family this year expanded representation to include cultural touches of other Hispanic countries such as Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Puerto Rico and Venezuela.
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“Our Hispanic community is an integral part of not only Holy Family, but Fond du Lac as well, and we are excited for the opportunity to host this event to celebrate their heritage, just as we celebrate the heritage of our German parishioners with Oktoberfest. “, said Holy Family Catholic Community Pastor Ryan Pruess.
Handcrafted booths representing each country will offer food including tacos, tamales, arepas, corn shake and salsa flour. Drinks such as Horchata and sodas will also be available.
The Mariachi Zamora Band, Masivo Show and DJ Estrella will provide live music throughout the afternoon. A folkloric dance group from the Mexico Dance Academy will represent different regions of Mexico.
Among the food and music booths, attendees can also participate in a ring toss or balloon darts, as well as a variety of contests: dancing, jalapeño eating, shouting or pranking.
Cheering competitions, known as El Grito, involve contestants shouting as long as they can, in honor of the “Grito des Delores,” the battle cry said to have started the Mexican War of Independence against Spain in September 1810.
Celebrations like Taste of Latin honor the history of the war — which ended in September 1821 — and the diverse culture of Latin America in Fond du Lac and beyond.
Fond du Lac County’s Hispanic population has and continues to grow, now making up about 6.4% of the population, according to the 2020 US Census.
Within the city of Fond du Lac, Hispanic residents number about 3,834 of the approximately 44,678 people who live here.
Admission to the Latin Flavor festival is free and open to all, with food and raffle tickets available for purchase. Parking will be available on the west side of the church and the rain location will be in the Holy Family Parish Hall.
For more information or updates, visit facebook.com/HolyFamilyFdL.
Contact Daphne Lemke at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @daphlemke.
