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Taste the Music, Feel the Fun, Shop the Culture: Why You Can't Miss the Latino Festival This Saturday

Thursday, September 10, 2026 at 5:12 PM

By Kathy Bottorff

There are Saturdays, and then there are those Saturdays — the kind you talk about for weeks afterward. This Saturday, September 12, is shaping up to be one of the good ones. Downtown Plymouth hosts the annual Latino Festival from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., a full eleven-hour celebration that doubles as the official kickoff to Hispanic Heritage Month.

Come hungry. Come ready to dance. Come ready to shop. Just make sure you come.

Let's start with what brings most people through the gates: the food. Local food trucks and booths will be serving up authentic Latin cuisine from across the region — the real stuff, made by people who know it best. Tacos, empanadas, arepas, tamales, elote, churros… the list goes on, and so should your willingness to try it all.

Here's the challenge: skip your usual order. Ask a vendor what they love. Try a dish you can't pronounce. Branch out. The best meals at festivals are the ones you didn't plan for, and your taste buds will thank you for the adventure.

A great festival needs a great beat, and this one delivers. Three different dance groups will take the stage, showcasing traditional clothing, movement, and rhythm from across the rich diversity of Hispanic and Latinx cultures. Two live music groups round out the lineup, bringing everything from cumbia and salsa to bachata and beyond.

And yes — you're encouraged to dance. Nobody's watching your footwork. Promise.

Here's something you don't want to overlook: the shopping. The festival features vendors offering authentic crafts, jewelry, clothing, artwork, and goods that celebrate Hispanic and Latinx culture. These are the kinds of finds you won't stumble across at the mall — handmade, meaningful, and often with a story behind them.

Whether you're hunting for a unique gift, a statement piece, or just a little something to remember the day by, the vendor booths are worth a slow, wandering browse. Bring some cash, support local artisans, and walk away with something special.

Back for round two, the festival's amateur boxing event returns after a roaring debut last year. Expect raw local talent, big crowd energy, and plenty of "ooh" and "aah" moments. Die-hard fight fans and curious newcomers alike will find something to cheer for.

Bringing the family? Smart move. The Kids' Fun Zone runs the entire festival — 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. — and it's packed with a Mechanical Bull, Bounce House, Cotton Candy, Face Painting, Balloon Creations, Popcorn, sponsored by Growing Kids, and Kids Activity, sponsored by 1st United Methodist Church. Translation: your kids will sleep very, very well on Sunday.

Behind the food, music, and shopping, the festival is rooted in community. It's a welcoming, inclusive environment built to highlight and honor Hispanic and Latinx cultures — the traditions, the art, the clothing, the stories. Come to celebrate. Stay to learn. Leave with a full heart, a full plate, and maybe a full shopping bag.

So this Saturday, skip the couch. The empanadas are waiting, the music is warming up, the vendor booths are stocked, and the mechanical bull doesn't ride itself. Come for the food. Stay for the fun. Leave with a little something extra.

¡Nos vemos ahí! — See you there!

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