Crowds gathered in Genoa Park to celebrate Latino culture, food, music and dancing at the Festival Latino.
The two-day festival went forward as planned Aug. 9, but one headliner, Daniela Darcourt, pulled out of the lineup. The peruvian vocalist could not perform due to issues with her visa-approval process.
Other festivals around the country have been canceled altogether amid anti-immigrant sentiments and an increased push for deportations by the Trump administration.
The Canton Latino Fest was canceled in May due to “growing fear within the Latino community,” an event founder told the Canton Repository.
Festival Latino began as part of a city pilot project in 1996. Since then, it’s grown into a two-day annual celebration that draws over 150,000 people per year.
On Aug. 9, vendors sold brightly colored Latin American apparel, trinkets, sombreros and more. Bands played in Spanish on a stage facing the steps at Genoa Park. Food trucks and tents sold every flavor of Latin American cuisine imaginable, from street tacos to empanadas to Columbian barbecue.
Maria Valdes, a Venezeulan-Columbian woman and a 6-year Hilliard resident, came to sample as much food as possible.
“I wanted to try foods from other Latin American countries,” she said.
Valdes had cachapas, a Venezuelan corn pancake and popular street food, as well as Puerto Rican rice with beans and olives, chicken, and plaintains with cheese. Her favorite dish was the Puerto Rican rice.
Valdes said it was her second year attending the festival, and she noticed a smaller turnout this year, but she wondered if more people might arrive in the evening as they got off work.
Salsamante Dance Academy and Carlos Rubio (“the Salsa King of Ohio,” according to the festival website), led dance lessons in salsa and other Latin American dance forms under a tent.
Saturday’s schedule featured performances from DJ Cale, a Hondoran DJ; Ale Almanza, a Columbian singer; Chupeta de Ajo, a Spanish-language cover band; and Los Rabanes, a Latin American fusion rock band.
German Cabrera lives downtown near the festival and attends many years. He said he likes seeing the diversity, and he enjoys the food. On Aug. 9 he ate papusas, a stuffed Salvadoran flatbread.
Cabrera said he enjoyed the entertainment but believes the festival could attract more big-name artists with the right support and publicity.
“I feel like we need more support from the community,” Cabrera said.
Manny Martinez played bass for Ale Almanza, then spread out a blanket in the shade to eat with family and listen to the next musical acts.
Martinez is from Nicaragua, where he worked as a music teacher. He says he misses the country every day.
Martinez moved from Miami to Columbus a year ago, so Aug. 9 was his first time attending the festival. He said it was a good first impression.
“We are very happy,” Martinez said. “It’s a good family time.”
Public safety and breaking news reporter Bailey Gallion can be reached at bagallion@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Festival Latino in Columbus celebrates Latin American culture