Riverside Park in Brownwood became a gathering place for music, food, games and cultural celebration on Sept. 19, when the Strategic Alliance for Leadership and Social Action, or SALSA, hosted its fifth annual Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration. The free, family-friendly event brought together families, community members, local businesses and organizations for an afternoon and evening focused on Hispanic culture, community and heritage.
Activities were designed for guests of all ages. The program included performances by local young singer Paloma, Lotería, a salsa competition, a Grito contest, a children’s area with games and a piñata, local food and shopping vendors, and a 50/50 raffle.
Local vendors, performers and raffle winners
A wide range of vendors and organizations participated, offering food, treats, shopping, services and community resources. Participants included Judy Bullard – Voter Registration; The Lotus Arrow – Ryan Smith; Texas Desert Garden – Danny Brunette; State Farm – Madison Roberson; Gigi’z Gewelz – Lisa Castillo; La Sabrosita ToGo – Laura Rodriguez; Cool Balloon Twisting – Stephen Jones; Tejas Ice and Sweets – Diane Cortez; Ella’s Sweet Squeeze & Co. – Rebecca Natividad; West Texas Scentsations – Dora Aiguier; Dari’s Snack – Dari Mendoza; This and That – Denise Stratton; Vinny’s Kettle Corn – Vincent Villarreal; and Los Food Guys – Mark Gongora.
The evening’s 50/50 raffle featured several special prizes. Maria Cantu won the cash raffle, Ruth Mendoza won a 65-inch television, Lisa Castillo won a Nexgrill gas grill, and Christina Ceron won a one-hour massage.
La Botana Mexican Grill & Tequila Bar won the salsa competition after guests sampled the participating salsas and helped select the crowd’s favorite. SALSA also thanked the other restaurant participants for their generosity.
Celebration tied to SALSA’s year-round mission
Beyond the festivities, SALSA described the event as part of its broader work in Brown County. The organization promotes educational advancement, provides scholarships to local students, creates cultural opportunities, and encourages greater Hispanic visibility and involvement in the community’s social, civic and economic life.
SALSA credited the event’s success to the volunteers, vendors, sponsors, donors, raffle ticket purchasers, performers, members and attendees who helped plan, organize and support the celebration. The organization said the community’s participation made the event a memorable celebration of the culture and people who make Brownwood special.
“Thank you to everyone who came out, participated and supported our 5th Annual Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration,” SALSA said. “We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to celebrate our culture, bring our community together and continue investing in the future of Brown County.”
SALSA said it plans to continue its work throughout the year, creating more opportunities for education, cultural celebration, community involvement and support for local students.