Hispanic Heritage Festival will bring music, food to Monmouth

Illinois: United Way of West Central Illinois and Buchanan Center for the Arts will host the fifth Hispanic Heritage Festival from 4-9 p.m. Sept. 19 at the Public Square in Monmouth.

Monmouth’s Hispanic Heritage Festival is the largest event of its kind in the region.

Entertainment will run all night and includes Marlon Davila Cantante Soloista, who will serve as emcee, Ximena Salinas from the Chicago area, Quad Cities Ballet Folklorico; and deejay Keith Patterson, who is originally from Monmouth and graduated from Monmouth College.

Up to a dozen vendors will be present and are encouraged to sell their food/merchandise at a fair price and each vendor keeps their proceeds. This event is not a United Way fundraiser, but rather an opportunity for the entire community to celebrate Hispanic food, music, art, and dance performances.

Buchanan Center for the Arts will help coordinate the event with United Way. On display is an art exhibit called "Nuestras Historias y Arte Desde el Corazón." This was a judged exhibition of local Hispanic artists. The winners of the exhibit will be announced on stage during the festival. BCA will also have a children’s art table and take-home projects available.

Expenses for the Hispanic Heritage Festival are not supplemented by United Way campaign funds. Rather, grants, sponsorships, and other funds for this event are raised in advance. Sponsors include: G&M Distributors, Dave’s Auto Body, Midwest Bank, Abner’s, and Norris Sound and Lighting. "United Way of Western Illinois would also like to extend appreciation to the City of Monmouth, Monmouth Police Department and Auxiliary, who will be present at the event," the release says.

For more information, contact Jeannie Weber, United Way executive director, at
309-599-1506 or email here.

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