Translation by Bianca Godina
The City of Glenwood Springs wrapped up Hispanic Heritage Month with its celebration of Noche Latina, an event full of fun, music and dancing for all attendees. The party took place on Saturday, Oct. 12, at Bethel Plaza, located under the main bridge in downtown Glenwood Springs. This was the perfect setting for the event, which was held for the third consecutive year and for the second time in the plaza.
The celebration began at 4pm, with activities for children, like coloring and shooting soccer goals for those who wanted to participate.
The versatile band “Son de la Zona” energized the evening, delighting attendees with a variety of Latin rhythms. Among the genres performed were salsa, cumbia, merengue, bachata, vallenato, reggaeton, and even regional Mexican music, offering a musical showcase ranging from Argentina to Mexico.
Gladys Arango, the community liaison coordinator for Glenwood Springs’ Parks and Recreation Department, commented in an interview with Sol del Valle, “We Latinos have joyful hearts, united by music, which is a language, art, energy and spirit. Music is a mystery that transports us to our most intimate emotions.”
Noche Latina exceeded expectations, with an estimated attendance of between 500 and 600 people throughout the evening. Attendees waved flags, wore traditional attire and wore their favorite team jerseys, representing a diversity of nationalities from the tip of Argentina, across all of Latin America, and reaching the United States.
“We aim for the inclusion of all Latino communities, without excluding anyone. The intention is for this to be their celebration, without political messages or ideologies,” Arango emphasized.
The festive atmosphere and camaraderie, characteristic of the Latino spirit, were reflected in “joy and enthusiasm shared in a healthy way,” Arango highlighted.
The celebration ended with the “Hora Loca,” a high-energy moment in which attendees paraded in circles to a diverse musical repertoire. Without a doubt, the event not only commemorated the close of Hispanic Heritage Month but also achieved its goal of preserving the cultural roots that remain alive and thrive in the Valley, with the accents, rhythms, worldviews, and traditions characteristic of the more than 30 countries that make up Latin America.
To read this story in Spanish visit www.bit.ly/sdvnochelatina
