The Seahawk

Issue date: 11/13/08 Section: Lifestyles

Media Credit: Max Sebold | THE SEAHAWK The 10th annual Latin Festival was held on Nov.8 at Hugh MacRae Park. The Festival celebrated the cross cultures of a wide variety of Latin American countries.

People of all backgrounds gathered Saturday at Hugh MacRae Park to celebrate Festival Latino, which provides a chance for people to soak up the Latin American culture. Amigos Internacional, who hosted the event, raised $30,000 to assist the growing Latin American population in southeastern North Carolina.

"We reach out to not only the Latin community, but new people that move here that need help," event coordinator Lucy Vasquez said.

The Latino Festival offers people of all ages and cultures a free event to be immersed in the cultures of other countries. For some, it is a chance to have familiar foods and music. For others, it is a chance to enjoy the unfamiliar.

The Hispanic population has grown 93 percent from 2000 to 2007 in New Hanover County and, according to a release from the Pew Hispanic Center, Hispanics have accounted for more than half of the population growth in the United States since the year 2000.

More and more businesses are realizing the growing market for Hispanic customers and wish to relate better to the Spanish-speaking people in North Carolina.

Cars lined the streets as smells from the Latin American food filled the air. Dancing, music, ethnic food, arts and crafts and family fun booths filled the park. Vendors such as local bank branches also came to offer service to the growing Hispanic population in New Hanover County.

Vendors sold purses, jackets, jewelry and national pride items such as flags. Many guests had temporary tattoos with their home country's flag placed on their face or arms.

Food options included Colombian empanadas, Mexican tacos and fried plantains from a Costa Rican tent. The food wasn't limited to Latin American food, however. Greek and Polish foods were also present.

Music was performed by local bands and local church ensembles. Groups sporting sombreros and cowboy hats provided music that had many attendees singing along and some even breaking into salsa dancing.

The Wilmington Police had multiple cars including a K-9 unit and the "Booze it and Lose it" bus on display. The Wilmington Police force feels it is important for the Latin American population to familiarize themselves with the emergency services available to them.

The festival embraced the strong sense of family that runs throughout Latin American cultures. Children enjoyed inflatable slides and bounce tents along with plenty of arts and crafts.

"It is nice to see that there are other families that come from exactly where we come from that are now living here in Wilmington," said Juan Ramirez, a native Puerto Rican.

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