Fiesta Hispana - 37th. year celebrating an amazing culture
One of the Midwest’s “largest and most successful” cultural celebrations marking the start of Hispanic Heritage Month opens with a high-energy performance by Kansas City’s own hot country vocalist, Perla Portales. She tops the entertainment lineup on September 14, kicking off the 37th annual Fiesta Hispana. The admission-free festival runs through Sunday evening at Barney Allis Plaza.
“Our primary goal is to provide a quality family-oriented fiesta that showcases the many talents of local and international music and dance groups,” says Sonia Lopez, treasurer for the Greater Kansas City National Hispanic Heritage Committee (GKCNHHC), which organized the first fiesta in 1981.
Inspiration for a fête to complement the KC parade commemorating what was then National Hispanic Heritage Week came from Rebecca Jaramillo, Jose Gonzalez and Ninfa Garza. As it was intended to celebrate “all of the diverse Latino cultures,” they called it Fiesta Hispana. By 1983, the fiesta had outgrown its modest Southwest Boulveard setting, and moved to Barney Allis Plaza, home to the fiesta ever since. Also in 1984, the GKCNHHC incorporated and gained nonprofit status.
“We’re very grateful to the community that has helped Fiesta Hispana all these wonderful years,” Lopez says.
Since its inception, Fiesta Hispana has promoted acknowledgment and appreciation for the important role and contributions of Hispanics to the U.S. through ever-changing eclectic entertainers, vendors and attractions. This year, 50 booths representing an enthralling array of food and other vendors will satisfy palates with tasty, south-of-the border fare and entertain, enlighten, inspire and tempt with their various wares. They include banks, broadcast and print media outlets, clothiers, education service organizations, health care and insurance providers, jewelers, nonprofits, psychics, restaurants, tax preparers, toy stores and wireless service providers, and officials from the Mexican Consulate in Kansas City and the Kansas City Fire Department.
A leading attraction is the kid zone, populated this year by Festejando KS with Minnie and Mickey Mouse and the “plucky pups of the Paw Patrol.” Balloon artists, a caricature artist, face-painting, a henna tattoo artist, games and a Moon Walk are among activities to amuse kids and families.
Fiesta Hispana 2018 will showcase 26 of the best entertainers in the region. (See program on page 13.)
“The successes of previous years have allowed us … to present amazing headliners that people normally would have to travel out-of-state to see,” Lopez says.
The fiesta is free to attend. Festival-goers will pay for parking and food and merchandise available for purchase. Vendors will accept cash and credit cards.
“The GKCNHHC works very hard throughout the year hosting various fundraiser dances to ensure that Fiesta Hispana remains free for the community,” Lopez says.
Barney Allis Plaza is accessible for festival-goers with wheelchairs and strollers at 12th and Central and 12th and Wyandotte streets. There’s an elevator from the parking garage under Barney Allis Plaza.
If severe weather forces a delay, fiesta organizers will broadcast it via social media and fiesta radio sponsors.
More than 40,000 people attended Fiesta Hispana 2017. They were drawn from ever-greater distances by the irresistible combination of outstanding talent, authentic jewelry, arts and crafts, imported clothing and mouthwatering eats, Lopez says.
“We’re hoping to welcome even more people this year,” she says. “It’s the same cultural celebration every year, but the vendors are fresh, completely different. These aren’t the same faces visitors saw in years past. So come and celebrate!”
