Lafayette Latin Music Festival is Saturday: Family fun, local food, art celebrate culture

WaTeasa Freeman, Lafayette Daily Advertiser
·3 min read

One of the year's most anticipated festivals is making its long-awaited return Saturday in Downtown Lafayette. The Latin Music Festival hosted by the Asociación Cultural Latino-Acadiana and Festival International de Louisiane brings live music and great local food.

For the first time since 2019, this celebration of Latin heritage and culture is back in Lafayette. This festival comes in the middle of Hispanic Heritage Month which is celebrated from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15. A majority of the 33 Latin countries also share Hispanic origins. The festival not only includes music and food but folkloric art, children's activities and cultural demonstrations.

"ACLA's mission is to promote and preserve the Hispanic heritage in Acadiana," ACLA President Pablo Estrada, said explaining the importance of the event and ticket sales. "We invite you to celebrate our culture with us, and by purchasing a ticket you help us to guarantee our contribution stays alive for future generations."

Music lineup runs from 4-10 p.m.

The festival will begin at 4 p.m. at Parc International Downtown with an opening ceremony at 3:45 p.m.

"We are so ready to see Latin Fest take over Parc Internationale again," said Scott Feehan, Executive Director of Festival International. "The musical performances are going to make this year's event a hit. We have seen Cimafunk's effect on crowds, and you don't want to miss them or the other acts we have in store."

Schedule of events

  • 3:45-4 p.m.: Opening ceremony

  • 4-5 p.m.: Latinos on the Rise Variety show

  • 5-5:30 p.m.: Tierra Linda

  • 5:30-6:30 p.m.: Malentina & the Lafayette Latin Allstars

  • 6:30-7 p.m.: Danza Azteca

  • 7-8:15 p.m.: Rumba Buena

  • 8:15-8:45 p.m.: Danza Azteca

  • 8:45-10 p.m. Cimafunk

Where can I park?

There are several free and paid parking options near Parc International: the garage on Vermilion has about 500 spots, lots behind Dwyer’s and the former Don's Seafood each have more than 100 parking spots, The Rosa Parks lot has more than 80 spots, and street parking throughout the district is free on weekends. Parc International is at 200 Garfield St.

New mural celebrates Latin contributions to Acadiana's culture

The Acadiana Center for the Arts announced a new mural celebrating the historically multilingual culture of Acadiana and the contribution the Latin community has made in the area. Lafayette-based artist Miguel Lasala and Facundo Vargas from Oaxaca, Mexico are creating the work on Garfield Street.

According to the AcA's press release "The mural will depict the roots of a live oak tree which become hands of welcome and outreach and which are accompanied by messages of welcome and inclusion in French, English, Spanish and Ayuujk (Vargas’ native language in Oaxaca)."

The mural is set to be completed this weekend.

AcA and ACLA invited the community to meet the artists from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at Hallway Gallery, 625 Garfield St., Lafayette, near the mural. The event will be co-hosted by The Hilliard Museum, which recently unveiled a new gallery from Lafayette artist Susan David

More:Louisiana artist explores womanhood, pain and mythology in new work

How much does it cost?

Tickets for the festival are $10 for everyone over the age of 12 and can be purchased at www.showclix.com/event/latin-fest-2022

To learn more about ACLA, the Latin Music Festival, and volunteer visit www.aclalaf.org.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Latin Music Festival is this Saturday. What to know before you go