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Photos by Lexi Coon.
Andrea Moreno, right, Cecilia Southerland, left, and Sebastian Chavez stand with their booth showcasing Colombian culture.
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Photos by Lexi Coon.
Videos and photos were commonly seen throughout the festival as guests enjoy all the entertainment and food that Fiesta Birmingham had to offer.
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Photos by Lexi Coon.
Karina Tomas smiles after getting her face painted by a volunteer.
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Photos by Lexi Coon.
Between 10,000 and 14,000 guests were expected to walk through Linn Park on Oct. 1 to celebrate the 2016 Fiesta Birmingham.
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Photos by Lexi Coon.
A common Hispanic cuisine, a variety of tacos were found at different food stands during the festival.
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Photos by Lexi Coon.
Eight different performances graced the stage throughout the day, giving guests a chance to experience all types of music stylings from Latin and South America.
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Photos by Lexi Coon.
Marcos Tomas, left, and Mirian Margarita, center, learn how to make paper flowers from a volunteer during the festival.
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Photos by Lexi Coon.
Nikki Alva and Jay Franco y Su Banda entertain crowds during the Fiesta.
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Photos by Lexi Coon.
The McDonald's Fiesta Tour features a Latin Grammy exhibit that plays tribute to Latin music.
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Photos by Lexi Coon.
Breanna Fowler tosses a frisbee to her brother while sporting a flower hat that she made during the event.
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Photos by Lexi Coon.
Many vendors were local restaurants serving up their best Hispanic dishes.
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Photos by Lexi Coon.
Ana Torres, right, dances with Nesdor Rivera during the 2016 Birmingham Fiesta.
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Photos by Lexi Coon.
Together with Jay Franco y Su Banda, Nikki Alva performs on stage during the Fiesta Birmingham.
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Photos by Lexi Coon.
Sebastian Chavez, right, shows a visitor the coffee candies that are made from coffee beans in Colombia.
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Photos by Lexi Coon.
Many booths of local organizations lined the sidewalks of Linn Park during Fiesta Birmingham.
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Photos by Lexi Coon.
A small mask sits on display in a Puerto Rican cultural booth.
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Photos by Lexi Coon.
Visitors lined the sidewalks in front of the stage to move to the music.
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Photos by Lexi Coon.
Harry Chambers and his wife Linda pretend to rock out in the McDonald's Fiesta Tour.
Good music, good food and good vibes could be found all over Linn Park on Oct. 1 for the 2016 Fiesta Birmingham. Celebrating its 14th year, the Fiesta aimed to “educate the mainstream public about the many different Hispanic countries and cultures through the best of art, music, dance and food.”
As Hispanic artists from Latin and South America flooded the park with their music, guests from all over were welcomed to take a walk through the cultural village, which featured booths designed by Birmingham locals to showcase their heritage. “We try to be as inclusive [of all cultures] as we can,” said Fiesta board president Cristina Almanza.
Food was also a major part of the festival, as the Fiesta included many local businesses’ and restaurants’ cuisine. “Obviously I think a big draw is the food,” she said. Visitors were encouraged to try traditional tacos, tamales, coconuts, elotes and fruit peppered with chili seasoning.
Sponsored largely in part by McDonald’s, the event was able to include the McDonal’s Fiesta Tour, an annual Latin Grammy exhibit that plays tribute to Latin music. “There are only 20 cities in the country who get the McDonal’s Fiesta Tour,” said Almanza. “We’re very fortunate to have them here.”
With an expected 10,000 to 14,000 guests to walk through the Fiesta, Almanza guaranteed that there was something there for everyone.
“We’re just so proud to be a part of Birmingham,” she said.
Planning for the 2017 Fiesta is expected to begin in the weeks following the 2016 event.
