John Brown University community gathered last Monday evening to celebrate the Hispanic Heritage Festival, an event filled with food, music and dance that drew a large crowd to the Balcony of the Walker Student Center.
The festival, organized by the Council for International Friendship, Creciendo Juntos and the Honors Scholars Program, began at 6 p.m. on Sept. 22. Students and faculty enjoyed free chips with salsa, hibiscus drinks, horchata, Latin American candy and more while taking part in interactive performances.
The event is held annually to honor the cultures, histories and contributions of people with Hispanic heritage. This year’s festival encouraged students to join in dancing and celebrating together.
“CIF aims to bring people from different cultures together, and so far, I think we are doing a good job of accomplishing that goal,” said Adaeze Nwobi-okoye, a CIF member from Nigeria. “The Hispanic Heritage Festival is an event aimed at celebrating the diverse cultures, histories and achievements of people with Hispanic heritage.”
Nwobi-okoye added that organizing the event was a rewarding experience. “Deciding what food and snacks to buy and picking them out, knowing you’ve made a good choice, is very exciting,” she said. “The turnout was great! Many people, even with their busy schedules, were able to show up, even if it was just for a little while”.
For many students, the highlight of the evening was the dancing. “My favorite part of the event is the dances coordinated by the students,” Nwobi-okoye said. “I love this part because everyone, no matter the culture, is able to experience the culture of others.”
Students agreed that the interactive nature of the festival made it stand out from past events.
“The festival was very interactive because I think it has never been done in a way that everyone can dance or that everyone can be talking to each other and sharing,” said Deily Alpizar, a student from Costa Rica. “It always used to be like watching performances or listening to speakers, which is also valuable and great, but I liked that everyone could dance and learn different dances from different cultures.”
Alpizar added that the experience felt personal and connected to her identity. “I also loved the snacks because they reminded me of home,” she said.
Many students joined the celebration, enjoying the music, food and company of friends. Even JBU President, Dr. Charles Pollard stopped by to take part in the festivities.
From salsa dancing to sharing traditional flavors, the Hispanic Heritage Festival brought students of many backgrounds together for an evening of joy and cultural appreciation.
Photo Courtesy of Ella Fletcher