Gorilla Village came alive Friday evening as the Hispanics of Today organization hosted its annual Celebración, or Hispanic Heritage Month celebration, an event that brought music, culture, and food for the community.
From 5-8 p.m., the free event drew families, students, and the community to Gorilla Village where the atmosphere reflected the vibrancy of Hispanic culture. Students were able to check in using their Corq app event passes before entering the space with food trucks, vendor tables, and games. Students also got free $10 vouchers for the food trucks. A balloon arch was set near the entrance as a photo op to celebrate the evening.
The event offered a diverse set of activities for both children and adults. Families gathered at tables to eat and socialize, while others moved through the game stations. A chanchla toss game was set up, while a lasso challenge with a wooden bull became a favorite among children. Bingo was played with beans and picture cards, with delicious goodie bags given to the winners. A face painting table also kept younger guests entertained throughout the evening.
Carlos Aguilar, a student majoring in construction management and minoring in business, assisted in the lasso game, he emphasized that teaching children was a delight for him.
“I love to teach these little kids, man,” Aguilar said. “I mean, this is a part of what it’s all about.”
Near the beginning of the event, traditional dancers appeared, captivating the audience with their regional music and dresses.
Food was a big part of the celebration; vendors offered a wide variety of dishes and desserts. The El Gordo food truck served hot meals, while La Sinaloense dessert food truck sold shaved ice and snacks. Dolce Rosella provided strawberry marshmallow cream cups, while Aroma Lule offered some churro cheesecake and Mexican brownies. Cynthia’s Delights featured tres leches cakes, Aida’s Pupusas served pupusas, and Delicias Jhoymi presented a range of sweets. A table from Mayte showcased ribbon flowers, while others sold gourmet Bolis, bracelets and refreshments of cucumber lime lemonade prepared by the Hispanics of Today club.
All eight vendors were from different regions and were invited to participate as well as share their stories with attendees. Joanna Rivera Ramos, a construction engineering major with minor in business administration and Spanish, is also the president of Hispanics of Today and explained that the personal connection was intentional. It was to create opportunities for people to understand the cultural backgrounds behind the food and crafts that were shown. She has worked with the group since May to plan and bring the event to life.
“This event really shows how far we’ve come and how much support we’ve gained,” Ramos said. “Our goal is to keep everyone involved and represent everyone with pride.”
Ramos said that the planning started months in advance, with a large focus on building community ties.
“To support one another, to celebrate the beautiful music, and to represent everyone with pride; that’s what this is all about,” Ramos said.
The event itself is a tradition for Hispanics of Today, held each year as part of Hispanic Heritage Month. Ramos said it allows them to not just showcase culture, but to also highlight the dedication of the vendors who came to share their work and pride for the heritage.
“They put a lot of effort to come here and share with us,” Ramos said.