Everyone is invited to celebrate the culture and contributions of the Latinx community during Fiesta Week (July 15 – 21) in Downtown Holland! Fiesta Week is a week-long celebration hosted by Latin Americans United for Progress (LAUP) in partnership with the City of Holland. Since 1964, LAUP has been empowering Latinos in the greater Holland area to participate in creating a better community for all through advocacy, education, and celebration. And they can’t wait for you to join them!
Fiesta Week begins on Monday, July 15 with a screening of the documentary “First Voice Generation,” directed by local filmmaker Cynthia Martinez. Screenings will be held throughout the day at the Martha Miller Center on Hope College’s campus. (Tickets required.) On Tuesday, July 16, LAUP will host a Latinxperience Symposium for students and adults at the Holland Civic Center from 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm featuring keynote speaker Dr. Delia Fernandez-Jones from Michigan State University, where she is a core faculty member of the Chicano/Latino Studies Program.
On Wednesday, July 17 LAUP will join the Kids Activities at the Holland Farmers Market from 9:30 am – 11:30 am! Following a bi-lingual story time hosted the Herrick District Library, LAUP will guide children through a fun “frutas y vegetales” activity and then help them get active with salsa dancing lessons from the Salserines! The Fiesta Week fun continues on Thursday, July 18 at the Gentex Street Performer Series in Downtown Holland with a Fiesta showcase featuring a DJ, dancers, and live music at the splash pad from 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm. On Friday, July 19, LAUP will join Holland Recreation at the Summer Concert Series along the waterfront at Kollen Park with a concert by MexiCuba and local food trucks from 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm.
Fiesta Week culminates in the annual Fiesta and Baile at the Holland Civic Center on Saturday, July 20. This free, family-friendly celebration includes live music, dancing, a mercado, food trucks, resource booths, and children’s activities from 11:30 am – 4:30 pm. Then the Civic Center transforms into a Baile, with live music, dancing, and a cash bar featuring national headliner Los Palaminos live on stage! (Tickets required.) Then on Sunday, head back to the Civic Center for the free Car Show from 11:00 am – 4:00 pm. Grab lunch at the food trucks and check out the huge collection of hot rods, trucks, lowriders, motorcycles, and more on display!
For additional details on LAUP’s Fiesta Week or to purchase tickets to Fiesta Week events, visit www.laup.org/fiesta. Grand Valley State University and Grand Rapids Community College Lakeshore Campus proudly sponsor Fiesta Week.