By Keily Alfonzo, Interning Correspondent for The Apopka Voice
Under a vibrant sky filled with the spirit of unity and celebration, Apopka came alive on Saturday, September 28th, as residents gathered at Kit Land Nelson Park to honor the rich tapestry of Hispanic heritage. This spirited event transformed the park into a colorful mosaic of music, dance, and delicious food, showcasing the diverse cultures that enrich the community.
In honor of the accomplishments of the Hispanic community throughout history, Apopka residents gathered to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month.
For the third year, the City of Apopka organized a multicultural event to unite people from different ethnicities. The event featured performances by Hispanic musicians and dancers, community groups, food, kids’ art contests, and more.
“The Hispanic community tends to stay in the shadow; they kind of stay quiet. So, when we have these types of events, I feel it’s a way for us to welcome them and continue to have them engage with us,” Vice Mayor Diane Velazquez said.
The event included food and drink vendors and informational stands, such as AdventHealth, which sponsored it.
Also present were immigration services, health care for seniors, chiropractic, insurance companies, and roofing services.
Music plays a significant role in the Hispanic community, and performances by musicians from different countries were featured during this event.
Fourth and fifth graders from Kelly Park School sang two songs: Mi cuerpo, a Hispanic folk song, and a medley from the movie Coco.
“It’s been kind of challenging for some of them because Spanish is not their native language, but they have such a love for music that they joined a chorus,” William Fisher, Kelly Park School elementary music teacher, said. “They just enjoy singing.”
Fisher explained that despite performing in this event for the first time, they rehearsed twice weekly for almost a month.
Peruvian dancers from Reymi Dance School also performed an original Peruvian dance, and Sahara Entertainment dancers performed Flamenco, Costa Rican Folklore, Samba, and Venezuelan Folklore.
However, not every person in attendance was Hispanic; some were there to support the Hispanic community.
“We’re brand new; we’ve been around for almost three years, but this is our first Hispanic celebration event,” Nikki Elouise, owner of Nikki Elouise Cake Shop, said.
As new business owners, they feel like being more present in Apopka is the right choice for them since they want to plant some roots there.
“We just want to get out and let people know that we are here,” Elouise said.
To attend the event, the vendors had to submit an application to the City of Apopka; however, some of them were invited by the city, such as Tortilleria La Mexicana, who Mayor Bryan Nelson directly invited.
“Most of us who come to this country, especially here in Apopka, are from different places like Colombia, Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico, and Brazil, so we thank the mayor for inviting us to this type of celebration and bringing us all together,” said Humberto Andrade, the Kiosko manager.
This celebration is an opportunity to combine all of the different Hispanic cultures in one place.
“When they have me coming out to these events, I feel there is comfort... like it is okay to be here and enjoy and celebrate the same culture,” Velazquez said.
