A music and arts festival celebrating Latin American culture will return to downtown State College this weekend for its fourth year.
The Happy Valley Latin Festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14, at the Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza and 100 block of South Fraser Street.
Free and open to all, the festival will feature music performances, interactive art exhibits and an array of craft vendors offering unique and handmade goods. The festival will also feature traditional Latin cuisine, offering a taste of the culinary traditions that are central to the culture.
See the full list of vendors and artists at happyvalleylatinfestival.org.
“Cultural diversity is the heartbeat of our society’s development,” festival founder Ady Martinez said. “The Happy Valley Latin Festival not only celebrates this diversity but also unites communities, fosters understanding and enriches Centre County with vibrant Latin culture.”
Martinez, the proprietor of Juana’s Venezuelan Cuisine in State College, created the festival “to showcase the dynamic and diverse essence of Latinx/Hispanic culture,” according to a news release, and with a group of community members brought together Latino talents to celebrate and share their heritage.
After the inaugural festival, the Latin Vibe Non-Profit Organization was established to to foster the development of Latin American leadership in the State College area by organizing, sponsoring and promoting an array of community, social, educational and cultural programs — including the Happy Valley Latin Festival.
