Salsa beats, colorful costumes and the smell of sizzling Latin cuisine filled Blumenfeld Family Park on Sunday, Oct. 5, as the Town of North Hempstead celebrated the fourth annual “Fiesta in the Park,” bringing the community together for an afternoon of music, dance and family fun in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month.
The event, hosted by North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena, the Town Board, and North Hempstead Parks and Recreation, partnered with the Parent Resource Center, Port Washington Public Library, Landmark on Main Street, and the Port Washington Police Department.
Long Island band Son Milanes performed, alongside other surprise acts playing salsa, merengue, and other Latin hits. Attendees enjoyed dance lessons, children’s performances, arts and crafts, and food trucks offering a wide array of Latin American cuisine.
Families also participated in a “passport” activity, visiting stations representing different Latin American countries to earn stamps.
Supervisor DeSena said the event allowed the town to honor the histories, celebrate the cultures, and recognize the contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities.
Nicole Asselta, executive director of the Parent Resource Center, said the event began as the organization’s vision to celebrate Hispanic culture in Port Washington and has grown into a cherished community tradition.
Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, commemorates the independence anniversaries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Mexico. It was first observed as Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968 under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded to a monthlong celebration in 1988 by President Ronald Reagan.
Admission to Fiesta in the Park was free, and attendees had access to street parking and additional parking at the Port Washington Public Library.
