DECATUR, IN.— The second edition of the Festival de Hispaños, scheduled for Saturday, aims to build on the success of the inaugural event in Decatur.
The festival, which will take place in downtown Decatur at Madison Street Plaza, will include a variety of food vendors, activities, and entertainment.
Carson Canales, the festival’s director, said the idea came to his family and business partners last year when they were looking for a way for Decatur residents to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month without leaving the city.
“We realized it was Hispanic Heritage Month, and the closest thing that we could find to celebrate our identity and culture was in Fort Wayne… “What began as a spitball idea quickly grew into something we’re now in our second year of,” Canales explained.
While festival staff expected only a few hundred people for its inaugural run, Canales said attendance far exceeded expectations.
“We ended up with more than double what we expected, and we were very, very happy with that,” Canales told me.
To accommodate the increased attendance, Canales said the festival has tripled the number of food vendors this year and will offer more activities than the 2024 festival. This year’s lowrider car show will also feature roughly double the number of vehicles on display.
Canales said the support for the festival has been overwhelming, from businesses wanting to participate to guests wanting to attend, and he hopes that anyone attending for the first time tomorrow will feel welcome.
“I hope they walk away fed, happy and certainly feel included, as the biggest thing we’re pushing for is inclusion,” Canales told me. “You do not have to be Hispanic yourself. You don’t even need to know Spanish to join in and have fun. There is a little something for everyone
The festival is free to attend and will take place from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.
