Local Communities Celebrate Hispanic Heritage

Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla was the place to be Sunday, where the sounds and smells of the Hispanic Heritage Festival were guaranteed to lure anyone in.

With an expected 15,000 people in attendance throughout the day, the 28th annual festival was organized by numerous local organizations.

"This year, the county just needed a little more support given that there is no Office of Hispanic Affairs," explained Zoé Colón, Executive Director of theHispanic Resource Center based in Mamaroneck. "So five sister agencies worked together and for this event we decided to call ourselves Lianza Latina."

The Center, on Mamaroneck Avenue, has been working since 1998 to assist the immigrant population in transitioning into the community. The Center organized the event along with Neighbors Link in Mount Kisco, United Community Center of New Rochelle, El Centro Hispano and Westchester Hispanic Coalition, both based out of White Plains.

The event was filled with vendors from local non-profit organizations and businesses.

The main stage was crowded throughout the day where the 22 Spanish-speaking countries were represented through cultural and musical performances. This included dances including flamenco, a simulated bull-fighting dance, and of course lots of salsa dancing.

"Salsa is one of the few dances that everyone can do," said Audrey St. Vincent of Sizzling Salsa Dance Parties in Westchester. "No matter what your nationality, nothing matters, salsa brings people together."

The festival started at noon and was planned to carry on till 7 p.m. Eventually rain hit the area around 3, forcing the audience to run to shelter or to their vehicles.

The Kensico Dam Plaza has been the location for numerous other heritage festivals this summer including Asian American, Albanian, African-American, Italian, and Polish events. August will also make the plaza the home of the upcoming Yiddish and Indian festivals.

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