The Kewanee Hispanic Heritage Celebration, the city’s second such event, is just a few months away, and committee members gave a presentation highlighting the celebration at the Kewanee Kiwanis Club meeting on Wednesday.

Adriana Garcia, Eveline Martinez, Daniela Garcia-Lozano and Jessica Fornander provided an overview of what to expect during the celebration, which will be held in September during National Hispanic Heritage Month.

The heritage celebration is just one of the events sponsored by the Kewanee Commission on Human Relations. Kewanee Pride Fest, held earlier this month, was also a commission event.

Garcia told Kiwanis members that the mission of the commission and the Hispanic Heritage Celebration is to bring awareness of the different cultures and ethnicities in the community. Kewanee, she said, is made up of many different cultures and backgrounds, “so we wanted to celebrate that.”

As an educator, Martinez said that the celebration is important to youth “because we can invite our students out and really be a part of the community.”

The event will feature live music, food vendors and retail vendors and is expected to be bigger this year. Last year, a part of Third Street was blocked off near the End Zone, which hosts the event. But this year, several blocks down Third Street will be used and even a portion of the Good’s Furniture parking lot.

Martinez said she hopes the community comes out to celebrate.
“At the end of the day, we’re all one community and we’re all in this together,” she said.

Fornander told the club members that the heritage celebration means something personal to her and that is why she decided to act as its chair.

“When I moved here, there was no Hispanic anything,” she said. “That’s why we started this event,” adding that she is very proud to be part of the Kewanee Commission on Human Relations.

The heritage celebration will take place from 4 to 11 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28, and is hosted by End Zone Sports Bar located at 116 E. Third Street.

Attendees are asked to bring cash, since many vendors don’t accept bank cards. Many of the activities are free and children are welcome to attend.

Because it’s free, the committee is looking for businesses to sponsor the celebration. Volunteers are also needed.

“Our number one goal is to offer a free event,’ said Garcia-Lozano.

This is the second year for the celebration and the committee is extending an open invitation to the community.

“If you didn’t come out last year, I invite you to attend,” said Fornander.

Community members are also invited to come to the monthly meetings of Kewanee Commission on Human Relations on the second Tuesdays of each month at 6 p.m. at City Hall.

More information about the Kewanee Hispanic Heritage Celebration can be obtained by emailing KewaneeHispanicHertiage@gmail.com.