By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
Autumn begins next Tuesday and a great windup to the Madison St. Plaza festival season is on tap Saturday: the third annual Festival De Hispanos.
The event has proven to be extremely popular in its first two years and this year’s festival truly does promise to be bigger than ever.
No admission will be charged to the festival organized and staged by the Canales family and scheduled to run from 2 to 10 p.m.
More than a dozen food trucks and vendors will be on hand, featuring cuisine from several nations. Adult beverages will be available.
Numerous booths will be set up by various organizations, businesses and non-profits.
The plaza stage will feature live music and entertainment throughout the day, including performances by “El Mariachi” Javier Beltran and Mariachi ECO, folkloric dancers from Amaneceres de Mexico, and headliner Celestina y Los Sanchez.
A festival merchandise tent will be set up and a cultural education tent will be filled with activities for children, including coloring, crafts, face painting and a photo booth.
A low rider (automobiles) parade is planned.
MEXICAN ROOTS: A portion of a news release prepared by Whitney Folven-Canales follows:
“Decatur and the surrounding region have a strong Mexican presence with roots that date back to the sugar beet industry. During the harvest season, many farmers recruited Mexican workers, known as betabeleros, to work the fields.
“Over time, many of these workers and their families chose to make the region their home.
“’I created this festival to honor my family’s legacy of coming and establishing our roots here in Indiana and Decatur,” says festival founder and Decatur native Victor Canales.
“’It is important for Hispanic people from every generation to reconnect to our past and our traditions and to acknowledge and celebrate how welcoming and accepting the community was to our families.’”
“Victor and his family business, Canales Legacy Unlimited, hope to build on that history by bringing generations of families together to celebrate, not only their own heritage and culture, but also the diverse backgrounds represented throughout the surrounding communities.”
“By shining a spotlight on the rich cultures and traditions of Hispanic and Latino communities, the festival seeks to promote greater understanding, acceptance, and appreciation for the many cultures that make the region unique.”
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