Big lineup for Latino Festival this Saturday

WASHINGTON — Washington’s ninth Festival Anual Latino happens in the square this Saturday, featuring a packed schedule with salsa lessons, a top-tier mariachi band, artisanal vendors, and more.

Latinos for Washington Co-founder and Event Organizer Jackie Arreola said the nonprofit was excited to host the festival once again on Aug. 5.

“This is a great way to let the community know we are here,” she said. “We are more than food, we are more than mariachi, we are more than tequila. We have such a beautiful culture behind our back, and this is a great way to come and see it. Eat the food, get to know about the culture, get to know about the different activities.”

Arreola said arranging the festivities took a village, with extensive support from sponsors and volunteers. Such an accomplishment is rare for small towns like Washington, removed from major population centers where the various professional bands, dancers and other performers usually operate.

“A lot of the entertainers come from out-of-state,” she said. “This is very unique because it takes a lot of work, a lot of money, a lot of mental effort to get this festival going not just every year, but with a nice lineup of entertainment.”

A highlight of this weekend’s festival, according to Arreola and Latinos for Washington President Sonia Leyva, is the mariachi band: Mariachi Herencia de México, a group from Chicago that has been nominated for the Latin Grammy Awards.

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Leyva said that performance was “the thing not to miss,” featuring a full assembly of 14 members. Saturday night also will end with “Banda,” another musical tradition for Latino parties according to Levya.

She said the musical acts on display expressed culture in a way that language could not.

“It’s like, every generation, Mexico becomes further and further … I don’t want it to get to a point where, especially my children, they no longer know they’re Latinos, that connection is so important,” she said. “Music is so important. I hear a song and it takes me back … and I would love for my children to grow up and say, ‘Yeah, I heard mariachi live downtown in Washington!’”

The event this weekend comes earlier than last year’s, which itself was moved ahead of the usual schedule to avoid competition with other heritage celebrations nearby, like Iowa City and Des Moines Latino Festivals.

Leyva said the park was already booked for late August this year, however, pushing Washington’s schedule even further forward. Still, she said that was a happy accident, as it meant organizers had an easier time booking in-demand acts.

“It’s actually worked out great because the performers were available,” she said. “The only thing that’s hard is, usually, we get high school students for volunteers for silver chord hours, but since they’re not in school, it’s been a little bit harder. So we do need volunteers, if anybody wants to volunteer.”

See below for a full schedule of Saturday’s events.

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com