The City of Bloomington hosted its 21st annual La Fiesta del Otoño Saturday at Switchyard Park to commemorate National Hispanic Heritage Month, which began Sept. 15. From noon to 4 p.m, the event showcased local culture through food trucks, live music and interactive activities for attendees to celebrate the season together.
The free celebration kicked off with live musical performances by Los Pablos and Mariachi Internacional de Bloomington.
Ximena Martinez Ruiz, Latino Outreach Coordinator for the City of Bloomington, said the celebration took immense preparation in order for things to run smoothly. She said planning the event can take anywhere from three to six months.
The Latino Outreach program aims to uphold the city’s commitment to inclusion, connection, accessibility and cultural appreciation, which carries into the celebration’s goal of supporting Hispanic residents and creating events to celebrate this month.
The event also showcased the people who make up Bloomington’s Latino community and recognized their hard work in the city with speakers giving community acknowledgments and thanks in between performances. Throughout the celebration, community members were given an opportunity to celebrate their culture and share their traditions with others. People of all backgrounds were able to learn more about Hispanic communities.
“We wanted to create a safe space for our community members to celebrate what it means to be Latino,” Ruiz said.
The event provided an array of tables consisting of over 40 local businesses, ranging from pastelerías, or bakeries, to local food cupboards, as well as IU departments and information about Hispanic countries. Tables highlighting Hispanic countries such as Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica and Nicaragua offered attendees a closer look at the cultures and traditions of each country.
Daniela Cook, the creative director of the FAR Center for Contemporary Arts, hosted a kid- friendly arts and crafts table, which also provided information on the center’s current projects.
“It’s been fun to connect with other Latinos and just get to know about their experience,” Cook said. “A lot of times people are isolated when they come here, so it’s inviting them to come and enjoy today.”
Some of the free activities at the event included a splash pad and several games, which allowed families to relax and enjoy each other’s company.
Attendee Christopher Robinson said being able to support his local community is important to him and that being part of a space that celebrates diverse communities in the current political climate is crucial.
“We care about the cultural values of having diverse perspectives and diverse backgrounds in Bloomington, so showing up is the meaningful part,” Robinson said.
