SoKY’s Choice: First Latin American and Caribbean Festival celebrates Bowling Green’s diversity

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WNKY) – A first-of-its-kind festival brought music, food, dance and culture from across Latin America and the Caribbean to Bowling Green on Saturday.

The First Latin American and Caribbean Festival, organized by the Hispanic Community Alliance of Bowling Green, was held at Lampkin Park. The event featured traditional folkloric performances, live music, local vendors, food and activities for families.

Tarsis Hicks, who organized the festival, said she has lived in Bowling Green for more than 20 years and wanted to create an event that showcased the many cultures represented in the community.

“I wanted to create something to show the community how many different countries we are here in Bowling Green,” Hicks said.

The festival featured food from El Salvador, Venezuela, Colombia, Mexico and the Dominican Republic, along with performances representing different countries.

Hicks said she also wanted the event to help younger generations feel comfortable celebrating their heritage.

“I want to show the new generation to see and to encourage other people to do the same,” Hicks said.

Hicks began planning the festival more than a year ago, reaching out to a Spanish-speaking group on Facebook to see whether others would support the idea. She said the event came together over the past four months with help from the community.

For Hicks, seeing the festival happen was especially meaningful after spending months planning it.

“Before it was only in my head. Now it’s right here,” Hicks said. “I can see that now. What I’ve been working with is right here.”

Hicks said she hopes the festival becomes an annual tradition that brings families and businesses together while continuing to celebrate the area’s growing Latin American community.

“I feel so proud to be here,” Hicks said. “And I want to give that to the community.”