By Rancel Lagombra 

Fiesta Baltimore, which took place on October 7th and 8th, is an annual event held in Patterson Park. With the festival lasting from 11 AM to 7 PM both days, there was also a parade that took place on October 8th at 2 PM. This event is a family and community oriented event and it is also free, with food, arts, and craft vendors where people will be sharing their creations.

The parade had a diverse array of contingents, like folkloric groups, marching bands, cultural associations, community-based organizations, businesses, nonprofits, local schools and universities, cars, floats, and trucks.

“I like walking around there and seeing different Hispanic cultures and I like to have fun there.”, says John Swift, a Hispanic student who lives to see these Hispanic festivals. 

This festival is a good way to express yourself and have fun even if you’re not Hispanic. “I ain’t even Hispanic, but I still go to these events…It’s very fun to be there and to try these different foods,” says student Jeliel.

Events like these really show the cultural appreciation in Baltimore. It makes you feel welcome and accepted here. It can also make you feel proud of being Hispanic. I think this event can be important for the people at Patterson as a big portion of the students that go here are Hispanic and it can help them get reconnected with their culture. It also can give the Hispanics here a breath of fresh air if you can call it that, since a lot of them can struggle with English and seeing this festival can make them happy. Also, we are currently celebrating Hispanic culture with Hispanic Heritage Month. Although the event has already ended, you can still celebrate Hispanic Heritage here with a celebration night coming up. 

Editor’s note: This article was written in October during Hispanic Heritage Month. The celebration mentioned in article is over but you can read about it here.