This coming weekend, Saturday, September 21st and Sunday, September 22nd, Sparta will celebrate Latino Heritage month with two events, at two locations. On Saturday the 21st, a basketball tournament will be held at the outdoor basketball courts, located at 1000 East Montgomery Street, in Sparta. On Sunday, September 22nd, a Latino Heritage Festival will be held at Evans Bosshard Park for the second year in a row. All members of the community and surrounding areas both encouraged are welcome to attend.
Hoops for Heritage festival
The Basketball Tournament reflects the growing popularity of basketball within Sparta’s Latino community. All are welcome to come and watch, as various teams compete for titles and prizes. There will be music and food available for purchase. Games begin at 7 a.m.
Latino Heritage Celebration Day 2
The Second Annual Latino Heritage Festival will run from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m., on Sunday, September 22nd. As it was last year, the celebration will take place at Evans Bosshard Park, in Sparta. Music, dancing, food, and various vendors will feature an array of cultural items to enjoy and participate in.
The buzz within the community last year was on the folkloric dances that took place during the Latino Heritage celebration. Last year, “Grupo Folklorico Juvenil Sangre Mexicana de Beloit,” or “Beloit Mexican Youth Folklore Group,” featured an astonishing and colorful display of dance and traditional garb. The group seeks to preserve and showcase the many different traditional dances from different states, across Mexico. Dancer, Karla Chavez, shared, “We like to travel and dance. It has helped us embrace our culture. We lose a lot of that because we are growing up in a new place. We want to share the culture where our families are from.”
Another young dancer chimed in, “We love dancing, makeup, hair, costumes. Not only that, but we also get to meet others and get close as a group. Not every city is the same. It’s really exciting to share our culture.”
A variety of events will be revealed at the festival. Once again, La Preferida Radio, out of Beloit, Wisconsin, is organizing the event. Both events are family friendly, free, and open to the public. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. To learn more, please go to the following web addresses:
Festival: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/fBhr3EwwmVEjWiBf/?mibextid=WC7FNe
Basketball Tournament: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/SN8DENmnJhKehwyJ/?mibextid=hLiTNg
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