Washington and surrounding residents can enjoy live music and entertainment, kids games, artisan crafts and food at the annual Latino Festival this Saturday.

This is the first festival since 2019 hosted by Latinos for Washington, Inc., and they have moved it from the Sunday of the Washington Summer Classic to this Saturday in order to have more entertainment for the community and tie in with Hispanic Heritage Month. Latinos for Washington President Sonia Leyva hopes to see many newcomers attend the event, “We are looking forward to our Festival Latino, or our Latino Festival, this year and just excited to see everyone. The whole community is welcome, we want this event to be open and free to the public. So please, stop on by, grab some food, hang out to watch some entertainment, bring your kids to play games.”

The festival takes place in Washington’s Central Park, beginning with an opening ceremony at 11:30 a.m. from Washington Mayor Jaron Rosien, with entertainment to follow until 8 p.m. including a female mariachi band and a magician. Free kids activities from 1-4 p.m. include face painting, lawn games, a Washington celebrity dunk tank, goodie bags, and a free book giveaway. Rural Health and Safety of Eastern Iowa will also be holding a free mobile COVID-19 vaccine clinic for those 12 and older from 4-7 p.m. at the festival. No appointments are needed and there will be a Spanish interpreter on hand. Hear more about the event from Leyva during today’s Halcyon House Washington Page on air and at kciiradio.com.