Hispanic Festival 2021 Kicks Off Friday in Grand Rapids

A festival that was canceled in 2020 because of the pandemic is returning to Grand Rapids this weekend to celebrate the culture and heritage of the Hispanic community.

West Michigan has a huge Hispanic community and this weekend it will be celebrated to the fullest at Calder Plaza on Monroe Avenue in downtown Grand Rapids. The event will begin Friday, August 6 at 5 p.m. and will continue through Sunday, August 8 at 6 p.m.

According to WOOD, the Hispanic Festival 2021 is the largest fundraiser and event hosted by the Hispanic Center of Western Michigan each year. Not having the event last year, really makes this years celebration even more important.

You don't have to be Hispanic or Latino to be a part of this amazing event, it is open to all to who enjoy the culture, the music, dancing and the incredible food. You won't have to worry about being alone at this event because the Hispanic Festival is looking to pull in around 30,000 people to attend this year's celebration.

I'm sure the food alone with have downtown Grand Rapids smelling delicious. To get more specific with the times the festival will be running. Things kick off at Calder Plaza at 5 p.m. Friday and go until Midnight. Saturday it will be Noon to Midnight and Sunday it will be Noon to 6 p.m.

There is a huge list of bands and dj's that will be performing all three days. If you want to browse the list of performers you can click here. Plus there is a host of food vendors and plenty of booths to shop at as well.

Hispanic Center of Western Michigan fundraising and communications manager Claudia Pohlen said, "it doesn't matter whether you're a Hispanic or LatinX or not, you have a place and a room at the Hispanic festival. Everyone I think shall enjoy the culture and different cultures and appreciate them and we can really appreciate things that we don't know. If this is an opportunity for people to try to know a little bit more of our culture, please come down."

This sounds like an amazing time and weekend, I hope I can find some good tequila.