Downtown Latino Festival, Not The Only Hispanic Event In Town
Published September 15th, 2012
GAINESVILLE - Hispanic Heritage Month celebrated nation wide starts today. It commemorates the history and cultures of almost 20 Latin American Countries. Latinos all around the nation get together to celebrate hispanic heritage month every year and Gainesville is no exception. Gainesville kicks off their celebration with the Downtown Latino Festival here at the Bo Diddley Community Plaza where people gathered to show pride in their culture.
This was Luisa Nagel's first time at the festival. She says, "I love my Cuban heritage, so this is wonderful to get this opportunity to participate in an event like this."
This is David Ruiz's fourth year putting the event together. As the festival's director he says he loves seeing the event grow. "We like to get people involved with the community, that's also another thing... Not just come and hear some music and have some food but get involved in your community and learn what's out there," Ruiz says.
The festival is sponsored by the Chamber of Hispanic Affairs, a local non profit. The founder Will Melendez says it all started 11 years ago as his master's project. Melendez says, "We want to offer services, outreach with the health department, Florida Works and other human services agencies for the community."
But that's not all Gainesville has in store for hispanics. University of Florida students planned a month filled with events open to the public. Paola Rodriguez the student Executive Director for this year's Hispanic Heritage Month says, "Hispanic Heritage Month at the University of Florida is the largest student run hispanic heritage month celebration in the nation, so we take a lot of pride in that."
Whether you're a student or an adult, people in the event tell me they have one thing in common. "¡Somos Latinos!" We are Latin, they say.
University of Florida Hispanic Heritage Month Events
September 17, 2012:
*Opening Carnival
UF Reitz Union North Lawn
10:30am-2pm
*Ceremony
UF Reitz Grand Ballroom
6:30pm
September 21, 2012:
*Talent Show
UF University Auditorium
6:30pm
*Club Party
Status Nightclub
10:30pm
October 3, 2012:
*Forum "Our People, Our Vote"
UF Smathers Library, Toom 1A
6:30pm
October 5, 2012:
*Comedy Show (presenting Erik Rivera)
UF Reitz Union Ballroom
UF Reitz Union Ballroom
7pm
October 5, 2012:
*Philanthropy Tailgate
UF La Casita (Gator Football VS LSU)
UF La Casita (Gator Football VS LSU)
Time TBA
*Hispanic Heritage Month Club Party Fundraiser
Status Nightclub
10pm
October 7, 2012:
*Scholarship Pageant
UF Reitz Union Grand Ballroom
1:30pm
October 12, 2012
*Step Stroll Salute Competition
UF Reitz Union Ballroom
6:30pm
*Official After Party
Vault Nightclub
10:30pm
September 13, 2012:
*Concert
Phillips Center
8pm
September 14, 2012:
*Soccer Tournament
UF Hume Field
11am
For more information visit:
Reporter:
Stephanie Bechara
