Fiesta

The Fiesta Hispanic Culture and Heritage Festival is an annual day-long celebration of Hispanic culture which is used to raise money for scholarships for Latin American college students in Alabama. Programming is designed to reflect the diverse cultures of twenty separate nations. Area non-profits also use the festival to conduct outreach to the Hispanic community.

The festival was launched in 2003 by the Hispanic Business Council of the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce and is produced by an independent non-profit board headed by Teresa Zuñiga Odom.

Held at Linn Park in downtown Birmingham for its first seven years, the event has grown in attendance from about 7,000 the first year to over 20,000 in 2008. In 2010 it moved to Regions Park in Hoover.

2010

For 2010, the October 23 Fiesta moved to Regions Park, which provides access to soccer fields for clinics and a 3-on-3 tournament.

2009

Cold weather dampened attendance at the 7th annual Fiesta

2008

Fiesta 2008 was held on October 18. The musical headliner was Michael Salgado. Other acts included Fuego and Sonora Carruseles from Colombia.

2007

The 2007 festival was held on October 20 with an estimated 20,000 in attendance. Musical performers included Anais, La Conquista, Cortez de la Sierra, Taboga, and the Cuban Ensemble. A children's arts tent held a volcano-drawing contest, making a connection between Mexico's 22 active volcanos and the current Pompeii exhibit at the Birmingham Museum of Art. Information on 15 Latin American countries was shared in the Fiesta's "Cultural Village". A storytelling stage, featuring Antonio Sacre, was added near the Linn-Henley Research Library. Other events included an appearance by luchadore Blue Demon, Jr, a 3-on-3 fútbol tournament, and informational clinics sponsored by the Jefferson County Department of Health and local nonprofits that work with the Hispanic community.

2006

16,000 people attended the fourth annual Fiesta at Linn Park.

2003

7,000 attended the first Fiesta at Linn Park.

References

• "A cultural village: Fiesta celebrates Alabama's Hispanic culture." (October 18, 2007) Birmingham Weekly. Vol. 11, No. 8, p. 8
• Walton, Val (October 18, 2010) "Fiesta heads to Hoover this year." Birmingham News

External links

• Fiesta website