Two years ago, the Friends of the Arboretum hosted the first Hispanic Heritage Festival at the New Hanover County Arboretum, a simple affair offering a scavenger hunt game to identify plants in the Arboretum which are also found in Latin America. It was intentional in its goal to attract a greater diversity of our community members to the gardens.
In 2021, the festival, full of music and good food, drew a large multicultural crowd.
This year The Friends of the Arboretum handed over the reins to Cape Fear Latinos, a local grassroots nonprofit organization. The mission of this group is to cultivate the advancement of the Latino community in and around New Hanover County by providing social services and developing programs for the community. Supporting this group is in keeping with the New Hanover County Arboretum goal of serving our diverse community.
Jazmin Treyjo, Cape Fear Latino’s copresident, saw the need for Cape Fear Latinos to be involved in the event; an opportunity to be a bridge between the Latino community and local residents. The Cape Fear Latinos Team are looking forward to managing the event. “We are excited for the opportunity to show the diversity of the Latinx community in New Hanover County, as well as showcase local talent. We are thankful to the Arboretum to give us the space and to both the Arboretum and New Hanover County Office of Diversity and Equity for their support and trust.” The event is free to the public; any vendor revenue from the event will be going back into the community.
In 2022, the Hispanic Heritage Festival will roll out as the Cape Fear Latino Festival. The festival will be held noon-7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 18, showcasing the diversity within our community — highlighting Latin American countries like Puerto Rico, Columbia, Guatemala and Mexico among others.
Food vendors will include Made in Venezuela, Wilmi Ricans, Antojitos Wilmington, and Taqueria Flores. The festival will be focused on providing entertainment for adults and children. There will be a DJ, live music, children’s parade, as well as local artists showcasing their work. Performances will include traditional dances from Columbia, Mexico and El Salvador. The festival will also feature the first Latino Pageant in New Hanover County and the Cape Fear Latino Festival Queen will be selected and crowned.
This year, the Cape Fear Latino Festival is again partnering with New Hanover County Health and Human Services to provide information about the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the newly discovered monkeypox. Local nonprofits, for-profit organizations and businesses are an important part of the festival and will provide information in Spanish about different resources or opportunities as well as items for sale.
Parking at the Arboretum (6206 Oleander Drive, Wilmington) is limited so a free shuttle will run from 12:30-7:30 p.m. at the remote parking site of Bradley Creek Elementary School, 6211 Greenville Loop Road, Wilmington.
For a full list of sponsors, vendors or for more information, please visit capefearlatinos.org or call 910-998-0675.
Angela Pearsall may be reached at apearsall@nhcgov.com or 910-798-7660. The Arboretum is free and open daily from 8 a.m.–5 p.m.