The Hispanic Heritage Pageant took over Harrisburg’s Derry Avenue with its annual providing of meals, reside music from Los Monstrous, leisure, distributors, video games and a flag parade.
Almost 75 distributors and sponsors participated, from massive firms like Big and The Hershey Co., to small Hispanic companies like La Cocina de Juan 316 and Roots of My Land Ecuadorian Family Restaurant.
Gloria Vázquez Merrick, the Govt Director of the Latino Hispanic American Community Center (LHACC), mentioned this yr was a record-breaking turnout in contrast with 2019.
“I consider about 2,000 folks got here out at the moment. In 2019 about 1,500 folks confirmed up,” he mentioned.
As we speak’s competition kicked off Hispanic Heritage Month. This yr’s theme was “Esperanza: A Celebration of Hispanic Heritage and Hope.”
Household is what introduced Harrisburg native Nataly Malave to at the moment’s competition. Her father helped volunteers with the tournaments by judging domino video games. She mentioned at the moment’s competition is all about group.
“As we speak represents who we’re, how we specific our love, our meals, and telling folks our tales,” she mentioned. “Whether or not you had been born and raised in America and nonetheless have a Hispanic background, or whether or not you’re initially from that nation and tradition, general it’s all about coming collectively as one and representing.”
At midday, Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse took the stage and talked about a number of enhancements in Harrisburg over the previous yr. He talked about the brand new planters, murals, stormwater infrastructure, and partnerships with among the nonprofits that confirmed up at at the moment’s occasion.
“That is the energy of Harrisburg. This space is a rising group and in line with the census, it exhibits that the Latino inhabitants is rising,” Papenfuse mentioned. “Additionally, it’s additionally been the very best place to expertise the very best delicacies in Harrisburg!”
