Festival Latino de Lexington returned for the 25th year to celebrate Latin American culture and community on Friday, Sept. 19 and Saturday, Sept. 20. 

Located at the Robert F. Stephens Courthouse Plaza in downtown Lexington, the festival featured local Latin American vendors, performers and artists.

The festival was presented by Lexington Parks & Recreation and the Foundation for Latin American and Latino Culture and Arts (FLACA), a non-profit that aims to encourage appreciation of Latin American culture and arts in the Lexington community, according to their website. 

Francie Chassen-López, a FLACA board member and University of Kentucky professor for 37 years, said the organization worked all year to host a festival that brings Lexington’s community together. 

“There’s so much to share from all of Latin America with the people of Lexington in terms of culture and music and dance. And when you share your culture, people get to know each other better,” Chassen-López said. 

For festival vendor and Lexington local Andrea Estrada, the festival offered a meaningful way to pass her Mexican heritage on to her daughter. 

Estrada, who was born in Mexico and moved to Kentucky at age nine, said it was difficult for her growing up because there was very little representation.

After she had her daughter, Estrada said she was inspired to make Mexican hairbows and started her business, Azalia’s Boutique, in 2016.

“So now that we’re having the Latino Festival and we’re having more Hispanic people here, I’m excited, I’m happy, especially because I have her and I want to show her her culture just a little bit,” Estrada said. 

The festival also attracted UK students such as Dominic Luthje, a senior majoring in music performance and linguistics who said he enjoyed the food and live music.

Luthje, who is half Dominican, said he feels a strong connection to his Hispanic roots and believes everyone should experience other cultures.

“The U.S. is made up of a bunch of different cultures, a bunch of different nationalities and so I think it’s important to at least get to know other people from other countries,” Luthje said. 

UK freshman psychology and linguistics major Marysol Garduno-Salas said the festival was something she could enjoy with her friends while also celebrating her Latin American roots. 

Garduno-Salas said she hoped people left the festival with a newfound love for Latin American food, music and language. 

“We need to show that we’re proud and express to everyone, like hey, we’re still here and we love to share regardless who you are,” Garduno-Salas said.

FLACA board member Betty Abdmishani said the group noticed a need for more Latin American representation in the Lexington community about 25 years ago, following a sudden growth in the Latin American population. 

Abdmishani said FLACA looks for diversity and variety when selecting vendors and performers to ensure that all Latin American countries are represented in the festival.

Included in the festival were performances by salsa dancers, singers, local school children and a flag ceremony. 

According to Abdmishani, while the festival is for the entire Lexington community, it is especially intended for the new generation of Latin American children. 

“Many of the children who are not born in this country don’t know their roots. So it gives us an opportunity to share our roots and where we come from,” Abdmishani said. 

A Cuban native, Abdmishani said she identifies with immigrant children because she came to the United States in 1961 at the age of nine. 

“When I see children, particularly children who have just arrived, my heart goes out to them,” Abdmishani said.   

According to the FLACA website, the festival remains the largest Latin American heritage event in Kentucky.