Latest news with #HispanicHeritageMonth
Globe and Mail
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Globe and Mail
Latin Food Fest NYC Returns as the Culinary Flagship of Hispanic Heritage Month – This Time, It's Food First. Always
Latin Food Fest NYC returns Sept 13–14 as the official culinary kickoff to Hispanic Heritage Month. Featuring 70+ POC-owned food vendors, five immersive zones, art, contests, and live performances, the fest is hosted by Panda and Jessica Torres. Rooted in the Raíces Radiantes flag, this isn't just a party—it's a movement. Taste the future of Latin culture. Tickets + info: NEW YORK, NY - August 14, 2025 - Hispanic Heritage Month is around the corner — and Latin Food Fest NYC is already setting the table. The original Latin food and music festival, now in its second year, returns to Brooklyn's Industry City on September 13–14 with 5 explosive zones, 70+ POC-owned vendors, 14 live performances, and one clear message: the future of Latin culture runs through our kitchens. This isn't your cousin's cultural fest. It's the culinary flagship of Hispanic Heritage Month, where food is not the side act — it's the revolution. Latin Food Fest NYC leads with flavor and founders. These are the chefs, street food legends, and upstart hustlers who feed the city every day — from empanadas and tamales to vegan mole tacos, Puerto Rican sancocho, Dominican pastelón, Peruvian ceviche, and smoked ribs with guava glaze. No filler. No fusion. All fire. Five zones, five vibes: La Calle (grill smoke, graffiti, DJs, food trucks) El Patio (chancla throwing, empanada contests, Bad Bunny lookalikes) The Dining Hall (chef tastings, Abuela's Living Room) The Music Hall (main stage, greenery wall, drinks, perreo) The Museum (Raíces Radiantes flag, art, VIP lounge, telenovela drama) Panda (@pandaiscooking) returns to host and taste his way through the chaos. Jessica Torres (@xojessicatorres) joins as official brand ambassador. And dozens of micro-creators will flood TikTok and IG with on-the-ground sabor. This year's heartbeat? Raíces Radiantes. A visual flag created for the fest — not to represent one country, but the whole damn continent. One flag. All of Latin America. Press & creators are invited. Credentials: press@ Tickets & info: LATIN FOOD FEST NYC 2025 September 13–14 | Industry City, Brooklyn | 12–7PM The Original Latin Food & Music Festival. Often Imitated. Never Duplicated. Media Contact Company Name: Latin Food Fest Contact Person: Marcos Halma Email: Send Email Phone: 6467043335 Address: 88 Morningside Ave 4E City: New York State: NY Country: United States Website:
Associated Press
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Latin Food Fest NYC Returns as the Culinary Flagship of Hispanic Heritage Month – This Time, It's Food First. Always
Latin Food Fest NYC returns Sept 13–14 as the official culinary kickoff to Hispanic Heritage Month. Featuring 70+ POC-owned food vendors, five immersive zones, art, contests, and live performances, the fest is hosted by Panda and Jessica Torres. Rooted in the Raíces Radiantes flag, this isn't just a party—it's a movement. Taste the future of Latin culture. Tickets + info: NEW YORK, NY - August 14, 2025 - Hispanic Heritage Month is around the corner — and Latin Food Fest NYC is already setting the table. The original Latin food and music festival, now in its second year, returns to Brooklyn's Industry City on September 13–14 with 5 explosive zones, 70+ POC-owned vendors, 14 live performances, and one clear message: the future of Latin culture runs through our kitchens. This isn't your cousin's cultural fest. It's the culinary flagship of Hispanic Heritage Month, where food is not the side act — it's the revolution. Latin Food Fest NYC leads with flavor and founders. These are the chefs, street food legends, and upstart hustlers who feed the city every day — from empanadas and tamales to vegan mole tacos, Puerto Rican sancocho, Dominican pastelón, Peruvian ceviche, and smoked ribs with guava glaze. No filler. No fusion. All fire. Five zones, five vibes: Panda (@pandaiscooking) returns to host and taste his way through the chaos. Jessica Torres (@xojessicatorres) joins as official brand ambassador. And dozens of micro-creators will flood TikTok and IG with on-the-ground sabor. This year's heartbeat? Raíces Radiantes. A visual flag created for the fest — not to represent one country, but the whole damn continent. One flag. All of Latin America. Press & creators are invited. Credentials: [email protected] Tickets & info: LATIN FOOD FEST NYC 2025 September 13–14 | Industry City, Brooklyn | 12–7PM The Original Latin Food & Music Festival. Often Imitated. Never Duplicated. Media Contact Company Name: Latin Food Fest Contact Person: Marcos Halma Email: Send Email Phone: 6467043335 Address:88 Morningside Ave 4E City: New York State: NY Country: United States Website: Press Release Distributed by To view the original version on ABNewswire visit: Latin Food Fest NYC Returns as the Culinary Flagship of Hispanic Heritage Month - This Time, It's Food First. Always
Globe and Mail
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Globe and Mail
From Birria to Bad Bunny: Latin Food Fest NYC Brings the Chaos (and the Chancla) Back to the City This September
The Latin Food Fest hits NYC September 13–14 with two days of food, music, and culture for 20,000+ guests. Enjoy the Bad Bunny Lookalike Contest, Lucha Chancla Showdown, Empanada Eating Championship, and 'Drama Mamá Live.' 70+ vendors serve Latin favorites, while Parcha NYC's lineup includes Los Rakas, Yasser Tejeda, and Mariachi Real de Mexico. Kicking off Hispanic Heritage Month, the festival features art, culture, and unforgettable experiences. Tickets: New York, NY - The Latin Food Fest returns to New York City on September 13 and 14 with more flavor, fire, and flair than ever before. The 2025 edition will transform the city into a two-day cultural celebration, combining food, music, and immersive entertainment for over 20,000 attendees. This year's festival builds on its sold-out debut with a fully staged, content-driven program that mixes high-energy competitions, theatrical performances, and cultural moments designed to reflect the diversity and creativity of Latin America. Highlights include the Bad Bunny Lookalike Contest, where contestants compete for $500 and the title of Benito's twin. The Lucha Chancla Showdown will pit participants in oversized foam sandals for a comedic, telenovela-style face-off. The Empanada Eating Championship will challenge competitors to consume as many as possible in ten minutes for a cash prize and bragging rights. 'Drama Mamá Live' will bring an in-person telenovela performance to the stage with humor, rivalry, and real emotion. More than 70 vendors from across Latin America will present signature dishes, including bandeja paisa, tequeños, pastelitos, and pupusas. The soundtrack, curated by Parcha NYC, features Los Rakas, Yasser Tejeda, Mariachi Real de Mexico, Samauma, and DJs Ultra Violet and Uptown Vinyl Supreme, creating an atmosphere that keeps the crowd moving from start to finish. Art installations, a giant Lotería game, and merchandise drops powered by immigrants will enhance the experience. Latin Food Fest is the flagship event for New York's Latinx community, opening Hispanic Heritage Month with an expanded lineup, new sponsors, and cultural programming that resonates across generations. 'This is tradition updated,' said Marco Shalma, founder of MASC Hospitality Group. 'We are not only serving Latin food, we are placing the community in the spotlight.' Tickets are available at offering general admission and all-access passes that include activities and exclusive merchandise perks. Press inquiries can be sent to media@
Globe and Mail
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Globe and Mail
This NYC Festival Created a New Flag for Latin America – And It's Kicking Off Hispanic Heritage Month
Latin Food Fest NYC returns on September 13–14 as the nation's first Latin food & music festival, marking the opening of Hispanic Heritage Month with a new cultural symbol: Raíces Radiantes, the Bandera de LATAM. Created by MASC, the flag unites 20+ countries through shared values of food, music, and storytelling. The festival features 70+ vendors, headline performances, cultural panels, and viral contests, celebrating the diversity and unity of the Latin diaspora. New York, NY - August 12, 2025 - This September, as Hispanic Heritage Month approaches, New York City won't wait for the official start. Instead, it will raise a new cultural flag born out of unity, created by the team behind Latin Food Fest NYC — the first and largest Latin food and music festival in North America. The festival returns September 13–14 with an expanded footprint, deeper cultural storytelling, and a powerful new identity: Raíces Radiantes, also known as the Bandera de LATAM. For the second year in a row, Latin Food Fest will serve as the unofficial but widely embraced kickoff to Hispanic Heritage Month in New York City. This year, however, the team is not simply producing a festival. They are presenting a cultural declaration. One flag. Many nations. One shared voice. The term Raíces Radiantes (Radiant Roots) isn't just a theme. It is a cultural framework and visual identity created by the MASC Hospitality team, a collective that is more than 80% Latino and spans over a dozen nationalities across Latin America and the Caribbean. Internally referred to as the Bandera de LATAM, this symbolic flag is designed to capture the common cultural DNA that connects countries like Colombia, Mexico, Argentina, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Peru, and the Dominican Republic. It recognizes that while language, cuisine, and customs vary, there is a powerful set of shared values that bridge the Latin American diaspora. This is not a replacement for national flags. It is an emblem that exists above and beside them — one built on food, rhythm, resilience, joy, and storytelling. It honors a truth that millions of Latin Americans already live: unity without erasure. 'We didn't design Raíces Radiantes as a branding tool. We created it because we needed it,' says Marco Shalma, founder and Executive Producer of Latin Food Fest. 'It reflects the unspoken bond between our countries and cultures. We all show up differently — but we all show up with fire. This flag captures that.' The visual identity of Raíces Radiantes will be revealed at the festival through a flag-raising ceremony, brand storytelling installations, and a unified design system that appears across all merchandise, signage, and storytelling zones on site. Latin Food Fest NYC 2025: The Cultural Stage of the Diaspora Now in its fourth edition, Latin Food Fest continues to lead the national conversation around Latin culture and food — not by presenting a curated version of Latinidad, but by allowing the diaspora to present itself. This year's programming includes: 70+ food vendors representing regional cuisine from over 20 countries across Latin America and the Caribbean Headline musical performances curated by Parcha NYC, featuring Los Rakas, Yasser Tejeda, Mariachi Real de Mexico, Samauma, and more The Bad Bunny Lookalike Contest, back by popular demand, will award $500 to the most crowd-approved Benito. Lucha Chancla, a satirical but culturally loaded showdown featuring oversized foam sandals, real-life drama, and a referee in a house robe The Empanada Eating Championship, where tradition meets competition Drama Mamá Live, a live telenovela-style theatrical performance channeling neighborhood storytelling Raíces Radiantes Launch Ceremony, with speeches, performances, and a symbolic raising of the Bandera de LATAM Cultural panels, chef demos, and creator talks, focused on Latin innovation, immigrant legacy, and the intersection of food, identity, and business Each element of the festival is deeply rooted in lived cultural experience. The production team, artists, vendors, and creative directors reflect the communities they serve. A Festival Built by Us, for All of Us Latin Food Fest is produced by MASC Hospitality Group, a Bronx-based cultural production company with a decade-long legacy of building community through experience. Known for creating the Bronx Night Market, Uptown Night Market, and the award-winning Meatropolis, the team is recognized for redefining the festival model with authenticity, grit, and vision. What sets Latin Food Fest apart is its refusal to dilute. There is no generic version of Latin culture on display. There is no monolithic story being told. Instead, the event allows space for every voice, every flag, every flavor — while reminding attendees that something bigger holds it all together. 'We're not waiting for Hispanic Heritage Month to begin. We are declaring it open. With our food, our music, and our own flag,' says Shalma. 'Latin Food Fest is not an event. It's a voice.' Event Details Latin Food Fest NYC 2025 Dates: Saturday and Sunday, September 13–14, 2025 Location: Under the NYC skyline (final location TBA) Tickets: Available now at Press, Media & VIP Passes: media@ Partnerships & Sponsors: partners@ About Raíces Radiantes (Bandera de LATAM) Created by MASC Hospitality's creative team in 2024, Raíces Radiantes is a cultural identity framework and symbolic Latin American flag that honors the shared values, traditions, and power of the diaspora. It functions as the creative and emotional foundation of Latin Food Fest NYC. About MASC Hospitality Group Founded in the Bronx, MHG is a leading cultural production company focused on community-first experiences at the intersection of food, music, and storytelling. The team has produced over 400 events and worked with dozens of brands, including NBC, Corona, Jack Daniel's, Bronx Brewery, and Columbia University. Media Contact Company Name: Latin Food Fest Contact Person: Marcos Halma Email: Send Email Phone: 6467043335 Address: 88 Morningside Ave 4E City: New York State: NY Country: United States Website:
Chicago Tribune
06-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
New art exhibit celebrating global diversity opens in Aurora
A new exhibit designed to celebrate global diversity has opened in downtown Aurora. 'Kinora: A Cultural Heritage Group Show' showcases work by a variety of contemporary artists alongside various ethnographic artifacts and art from around the world, according to a news release from the city of Aurora. The new art exhibit is Aurora Public Art Division's third of 2025. The exhibit and related events are at Aurora Public Art at the David L. Pierce Art and History Center, 20 E. Downer Place in downtown Aurora. The art gallery is open from noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. 'The inclusion of ethnographic art will provide a fascinating contrast and complement contemporary works, offering a deeper understanding of human creativity across diverse cultures and time periods,' Curator Sangeeta Pande said in the city news release about the new exhibit. 'It also highlights the personal connections and passions of individuals within the Aurora community.' Contemporary artists featured in the exhibit include Aurora 10th Ward Ald. Shweta Baid, Abdoulaye Conde, Martha Ponzio, Marita Valdizan, Karla Wong, Varun Vasireddy and Breyona Smith as well as Georgene Schramer, who is former Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner's aunt, the city news release said. The exhibit also hosts significant ethnographic artifacts from the Solomon Islands, provided by the family collection of Tom and Marilyn Weisner, along with art from Papua New Guinea from the family collections of Milton and Cecil Johnson and Marcus and Christine Felde, plus a utilitarian piece from Africa contributed by Addam Brummel, according to the news release. A variety of related events will be held throughout the coming months in connection with the exhibit, all to be held at Aurora Public Art at 20 E. Downer Place. On Friday, Aug. 22, from 2 to 4 p.m., Marilyn Weisner will share her experiences from the Solomon Islands, followed by a talk from Aurora's Deputy Poet Laureate Quentin Johnson and Aurora's Director of Innovation and Strategy Martha Paschke about growing up in Papua New Guinea. The next week, on Friday, Aug. 29, from 2 to 4 p.m., a free watercolor workshop will be led by Martha Ponzio, an art therapist from the Art Institute of Chicago. On Friday, Sept. 5, from 6 to 9 p.m., the exhibition will honor Hispanic Heritage Month by hosting a celebration in collaboration with Jose Torres and the SS Modeling Agency, featuring a musical performance by Juan Diego Rojas. On Saturday, Sept. 13, from 2 to 4 p.m., there will be a free wire stitch workshop for ages 16 and older led by Peruvian artist Marita Valdizan. Then, on Friday, Sept. 19, from 2 to 4 p.m., Quentin Johnson will lead a poetry workshop inspired by the exhibition. The exhibition will conclude on Saturday, Sept. 20, with a fashion show from 2 to 4 p.m. that will be led by award-winning fashion designer Breyona Smith, who is a graduate of West Aurora High School and Columbia College Chicago.
