08-05-2025
Latino festivals face cancellations; LULAC fights to keep events
DES MOINES, Iowa — Just after Washington, Iowa, canceled its Latino Festival, Ottumwa announced its cancellation. Now, local groups are working to keep festivals around the state going.
Latinos for Washington, Inc. announced that their annual Festival Latino of Washington was cancelled on April 24. Two weeks later, on May 7, the group VIVA Ottumwa announced their own cancellation.
In a message to the community, the group announced the cancellation, saying in part.
This decision was made with our community's safety and well-being in mind. Like many across the country, we are navigating a time of uncertainty that has deeply impacted vulnerable community members. We believe it's our responsibility to act with care and prioritize the peace of mind of those we serve
VIVA Ottumwa Latino Festival Facebook
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Washington and Ottumwa aren't the only places that express concerns, Valley Junction says their weekend Cinco De Mayo Festival was impacted.
'We did take a hit on attendance, so we did notice that,' said Larry Kaster, Historic Valley Junction Events and Marketing Manager. 'We have a large number of people that, in past years, would go through the beverage tent with Mexican IDs, and this year we only had one.'
The Iowa League of United Latin American Citizens, LULAC, has been in contact with festival planners around the state and says the concerns are heard, but it's not stopping everyone.
'Muscatine, they're on in. They've had to deal with some hateful rhetoric in that community, but the Muscatine folks are going to do theirs,' said Joe Enriquez Henry, LULAC Political Director. 'We hope that this continues on throughout the state, as we know, the Latino community and the immigrant community are growing.'
In Des Moines, the 2025 Annual Hispanic Heritage Event is set to take place September 27th and 28th, and Henry says plans are still a go.
'The festivals will continue, and whatever issues that might pop up or actions or behaviors, we're going to deal with it,' said Enriquez Henry. 'Des Moines is very strong, we having a Latino festival here that has gone on several decades.'
Henry says a Des Moines LULAC group will meet this weekend to discuss how to prevent further cancellations.
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