For one Saturday each September, the Hall of Records parking lot in Freehold becomes a gathering place for Latin American music, food, culture, and community. The Latino Festival of Monmouth County returns for its 21st edition on Saturday, Sept. 19, from 12 to 7 pm.
The free, family-oriented festival will feature live music, cultural entertainment, games, Latin American food, vendors, and community organizations. The event is held at 1 East Main Street in downtown Freehold.
Founded in 2005, the festival grew out of the organizing efforts of the Latino Alliance of Monmouth County. Its mission is to celebrate Latino heritage and pride while offering people an opportunity to learn about the histories, traditions, and contributions of the many communities across Latin America. Organizers say the festival now reaches more than 5,000 people from across New Jersey each year.
This year’s festival falls during National Hispanic Heritage Month, which is observed from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15. Unlike most commemorative months, it begins in the middle of the calendar month because Sept. 15 marks the anniversary of independence for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Mexico celebrates its independence on Sept. 16, followed by Chile on Sept. 18.
National Hispanic Heritage Month began as a one-week observance in 1968 and was expanded to a 30-day celebration two decades later. The Freehold festival brings that national observance close to home through an afternoon centered on the music, food, traditions, and people who make up Monmouth County’s Latino community.
Admission is free. The rain date is Sunday, Sept. 20.