Festival celebrates Latino culture

By Matthew Shaw Daily Times Staff Writer

The sound system kept faltering Saturday, but the teenage girls performing on the lawn of the Wilson Public Library never did. The dancers twirled, their arms intertwined with every start and stop in their soundtrack.


Finally the music came to a final stop and the girls sank to the ground. Applause came from the stands and under the trees, and the girls lit up with smiles as they left the stage.

"We do get nervous before, but we like to perform," said Judith Vasquez, 17, a member of the Jovenes de LH. The group is a dance troupe formed earlier this year at the La Hermosa Church in Bailey.

Saturday was the second annual Festival del Verano, or "summer festival," which was organized by the Wilson Police Department's Hispanic Outreach Program.

Hundreds of people turned out for a program of Latino music, dance and entertainment. Venders sold nachos, tacos and roasted corn, and children played in a moonwalk, tossed Frisbees and kicked soccer balls.


While everyone seemed to be having fun, another purpose of the event was to get information out to the Hispanic and Latino community, said Sandy Hernandez of the Wilson Police Department.

"One thing we're trying to do is educate the community, especially newcomers, about different city ordinances," she said.

Police officers were using breaks in the musical performances to talk to the audience about some of these issues, she said.

The police also wanted to warn parents about the growing numbers of Hispanic gangs. "We want to give them tips, things to look for, so that they may know if their children are getting involved," she said.
Several community groups had booths, including the Wilson Fire Department, the Human Relations Commission, The Arts Council, and the Wilson County Health Department, which had a display on lead-paint poisoning.

The festival was sponsored by the city, the Human Relations Commission, the Thomas & Farris and Farris & Farris law firms and Coca-Cola Bottling Co.
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