Iowa's Latino Heritage Festival

#FESTIVAL Enjoy our Sabor Latino

Iowa's Latino Heritage Festival is the only two-day Latino Heritage festival in the state. The exclusive Sabor Latino event features everything, meaning there’s something for everyone during the action-packed weekend in #DesMoines.

ARTIST DISPLAYS

The exhibit includes many local Iowa Latino arts and crafts. There is photography, oils, acrylic paintings, sculptures, and performance art. These artists have come together to integrate their unique experience as Latino Iowans and which reflects an often-ignored segment of Iowa’s history.  The Iowa Latino Heritage Festival is proud to provide a platform for this creative voice to be heard!

FOOD VENDORS

Recognizing that food has been one of the most successful ways of sharing one’s culture, festival organizers have always intended to partner with diverse, quality food vendors representing the culinary traditions of Latin America. 

The Iowa Latino Heritage Festival has become a prime selling and marketing opportunity for all businesses involved. Food vendors have easily made back 9 to 10 times their investment and have received invaluable marketing exposure for their small businesses.

CULTURAL BOOTHS

Another top draw among festival attendees, the cultural booths have come to represent most Latin American countries, providing audiences with a deeper cultural understanding of the nuance and diversity within the Latino community. 

One of the most prevalent comments is “I didn’t know their are so many Latin American people from so many different countries in Iowa!”  It has made us extremely proud to give populations of Latinos a voice and presence to celebrate and share their country’s heritage.

As people visit these cultural booths, they learn about dance, arts and crafts, food, language, customs, politics, demographics, celebrations, and so much more.  It is the type of information that enriches a student’s learning no matter the age, and one which equips all Iowa employees to understand the richness of diversity.

CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES

The activities in the children’s area help to accomplish a cultural exchange and affirmation that is not experienced by most children in school. Festival attendees each year say they value and appreciate the family-friendly environment of the festival. Activities range from jumping castles to pinata making. The vision of providing hands-on educational activities for children has guided the festival from the beginning. Last year there were more hands-on children’s activities than ever, and we hope to continue that for the 2019 festival.

Date: 

Saturday, September 23 from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Sunday, September 24 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Location:  Western Gateway Park 

1330 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309, USA

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