Sunnier weather means the return of outdoor markets in Peoria. And a new al fresco shopping experience starting this weekend in the Warehouse District is catered toward the local Hispanic community. But event co-organizer Cesar Vargas says the markets, called Tianguis, aim to bring together both Hispanics and non-Hispanics.
“People see that the Hispanic population is really growing in Peoria, but we really never talk about it," Vargas said. "And there really isn’t a place for us to say that we can come together, and say ‘oh this is where you would find them on a Saturday morning, having coffee, mingling with other people.’”
Vargas, who’s Mexican-American, says he hopes the weekly markets help draw attention to the Hispanic community’s involvement in the city.
The weekly Tianguis markets run Saturdays from 8am to 12 pm, on the corner of Pecan and Adam Streets. More information can be found here.