© 2024 Peoria Public Radio
A joint service of Bradley University and Illinois State University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Spanish karaoke, Selena tribute, 16-piece band and more at Latin Fest in Peoria this weekend

Casa de Arte, 1227 SW Adams St., in Peoria will host the 2021 Latin Fest on Saturday, Oct. 16.
Cesar Vargas / PROVIDED
Casa de Arte, 1227 SW Adams St., in Peoria will host the 2021 Latin Fest on Saturday, Oct. 16.

As National Hispanic Heritage Month comes to a close this weekend, the Peoria area has one final chance to celebrate.

From 5 to 11 p.m. on Saturday, the owners of Casa de Arte will host Latin Fest, a festival of live music, food, activities and more in the parking lot of the restaurant.

From a 16-member band to a Selena tribute to Caribbean jams, Latin Fest’s live entertainment will be all-encompassing, event organizer Cesar Vargas said.

“It’s a taste of Latin America here in Peoria,” he said. “You don’t have to go too far. You just have to come down to South West Adams Street. … And we’ll take you away for a little bit.”

The half-hour Selena tribute will kick things off at 5 p.m. A karaoke competition will last from 5:30-6 p.m., followed by the crowning of “Miss Latin Fest.”

The karaoke contest winner will receive a cash prize, Vargas said. He’s excited to bring Spanish karaoke to Peoria.

“It’s hard to find places to sing in Spanish,” he said.

At 6:30 p.m. Musica del Caribe will perform salsa, bachata and merengue.

Finally,Banda Renacimiento– Latin Fest’s headlining act – will take the stage at 8:30 p.m. The 16-person band is visiting Peoria from Chicago.

Vargas is an advisor of the Greater Peoria Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. He said events like this are important for Peoria's growing Hispanic community.

“It is important for Hispanics to feel represented,” he said. “Someone from the Hispanic community had to put this on. The city, agencies, can only do so much. By us putting it on for the community, we’re able to get people involved, and give them some visibility."

Tianguis Mexican Outdoor Market at Casa de Arte
Cesar Vargas / PROVIDED
Tianguis Mexican Outdoor Market at Casa de Arte

Earlier this year, Ambassador Reyna Torres Mendivil — the Consul General of Mexico in Chicago — told WCBU Mexican-Americans are indeed flocking to central Illinois.

Mexican Immigrants, Mexican-Americans Moving To Central Illinois For Jobs

Maria Miranda is the director of Peoria Folklore Ballet. She’s also the owner of Miranda’s Bello Boutique in East Bluff.

During National Hispanic Heritage Month, Miranda shared her love of Mexican culture with greater Peoria – as well as the children of Spanish-speaking families – through traditional folkloric dancing.

With dance, Peoria woman hopes to inspire youth during Hispanic Heritage Month and beyond

Peoria has a large salsa following, but Vargas said live music gatherings as extensive as Latin Fest are hard to find locally.

Recent immigrants and families often travel to Bloomington-Normal, Springfield, the Quad Cities or as far as Chicago to find gatherings like Latin Fest, Vargas said.

“Mexicans really love live entertainment,” he said. “We couldn’t play a CD and expect them to enjoy themselves. … It’s our tradition, our culture, live music.”

Tianguis Mexican Outdoor Market at Casa de Arte
Cesar Vargas / PROVIDED
Tianguis Mexican Outdoor Market at Casa de Arte

He hopes Peorians of all backgrounds come to Latin Fest.

“We welcome everyone to come on down and check us out,” he said. “Listen to our music, taste our food, and see who we are.”

Casa de Arte, a restaurant and art gallery, is located at 1227 SW Adams Street in Peoria’s Warehouse District.

Latin Fest costs $20 if purchased online in advance and $25 at the door. Children’s tickets cost $10.

Parents who arrive between 4-5 p.m. can get themselves and their children in for half off, at $10 and $5 ticket prices, respectively.

Learn more about Latin Fest on Facebook. Buy tickets in advance online.

Learn more about the Greater Peoria Hispanic Chamber of Commerce online.

Hannah Alani is a reporter at WCBU. She joined the newsroom in 2021. She can be reached at hmalani@ilstu.edu.