Vendors and families showed up for the fourth annual Lebanon Hispanic Multicultural Festival on Sept. 28 despite clouds, wind and rain throughout the afternoon.
Juntos De Lebanon organized the event for National Hispanic Heritage Month, which is celebrated from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. It’s a time to recognize the generations of Hispanic Americans who have “positively influenced and enriched our nation and society,” according to the Library of Congress.
Guadalupe Barba, founder of Juntos De Lebanon and co-owner of La Placita in Lebanon, helped pull the festival together. She said it was a team effort, and she is incredibly grateful for the community’s help and support.
“This is for all of Lebanon,” Barba said. “We try to share our culture, our food, our tradition, our music.”
Barba said the event is important for Hispanic-owned businesses as well.
“It’s important to show diversity in our city,” she said. “Show the products in our community, our talent in musicians, our talent in restaurants, our talent in the community because we live here — maybe we are from different countries, but Lebanon is our home. It’s our home and we are proud to live here, we are proud of our culture, our traditions, our music and our food.”
Shem-May Mercado had a table for her Eli-May Creations business to sell vinyl-decorated mugs, cups, wine glasses and more.
From Puerto Rico and now living in Lebanon, she said there aren’t many festivals or craft shows in the city, so this was an opportunity for her.
“It was kind of nice to have something here in the city where I actually have my business so that I can meet the public,” Mercado said.
But it isn’t just beneficial to small businesses. She said cultural events help connect the entire community.
“It’s very important for everyone to get together, get to know each other a little bit better so we can all understand each other,” she said.
Miguel Rivera attended with his wife Tara and their two children. The kids made their own slime and played with it while their parents ate food and enjoyed the music.
Miguel Rivera said it is an “awesome event” because of the live music and fresh food, and it was a great way to get the young ones out and exposed to their culture.
“It’s a chance for us, the kids to see their culture and be a part of it,” he said. “A large part of our population is Hispanic, so it caters to them and gives us a chance to do something and to celebrate.”
Lebanon’s population is 44% Hispanic or Latino, according to 2022 census data.
With the weather making the crowd sparse at times this year, Rivera said he hopes the festival will continue to grow.
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