Hispanic Heritage Month kicks off in person

Hispanic Heritage Month begins September 15 and is expected to be filled with events and celebrations of Latino culture and history until mid-October. Many organizations in the Triad will celebrate with in-person events as people in the community plan to finally come together after years of COVID regulations.

Executive Director of the Hispanic League, Mari Jo Turner, is one of the many organizers of Fiesta, which takes place on Saturday, September 10, 2022. It’s often a popular attraction in Winston-Salem, with past events bringing in as many as 15,000 attendees.

"It's a release that we're finally going to get together again, and be able to celebrate the culture and the heritage of the 22 different countries and territories that are represented here within the community," says Turner.

Fiesta is usually filled with local vendors, mariachis, and dance contests. This year, to celebrate the Hispanic League’s 30th year anniversary, the event will also include a Hispanic Art exhibition featuring 15 local artists. 

"It's just a bringing of unity to the community so that they are filling a time to celebrate their heritages," says Turner.

Other celebrations during the Hispanic Heritage month include Mariachi Cobre in Greensboro on September 24, Art of the Sip on September 8, Saludos Compay on September 17, Elliot Frank and Friends, and others.

This story was produced by a partnership between WFDD and La Noticia. You can read this story in Spanish at La Noticia.

Eileen Rodriguez is a reporter for both WFDD and La Noticia through Report for America, where she covers COVID-19's impact on Latino Communities.

Periodista de La Noticia y 88.5 WFDD, Eileen Rodríguez reporta el impacto de COVID-19 en la comunidad Latina en Carolina del Norte. Rodríguez es miembro del cuerpo de periodistas de Report for America 2021-2022