Close your eyes and imagine small business owners with stalls lining a patio, women talking and laughing, a thunderous bass coming from the DJ booth, and a warm and inviting atmosphere. If a space like this is what you’re looking for, LATINAFest is the perfect place for you.
This Sunday, the festivities will begin at 11 a.m. with a panel by The Trend Talk hosts, followed by sessions on financial literacy, dance lessons, and a plethora of small business owners. Stickers, household items like mugs, makeup and so much more will be available to buy throughout the event. However, the things available for purchase won’t be limited to physical things, last year limpias and palm readings were also available. All this and more is included in LATINAFest’s $10 general admission ticket, and being Latina is not a requirement to attend.
Founded by Bel Hernandez and Naibe Reynoso in 2018, the event aims to capture and celebrate all of the complexities of being Latina. It’s not about picking one part of our identity over the other, but rather celebrating our intricacies while investing in our community. That’s why this year’s theme is inspiration through movement, with a special emphasis placed on celebrating creatives and entrepreneurs. We’re so often discouraged from pursuing these careers by our communities that we fail to aspire to our fullest potential. They’re seen as careers that aren’t a guarantee and therefore our creativity is cast aside not due to a lack of talent, but a lack of systems to support us.
LATINAFest aims to change this, not only by showcasing small business owners but by literally putting them on full display. Most of the clothing sold at the festival will be modeled during a fashion show towards the end of the event where business owners will have an opportunity to talk about what drives them to create and what being a Latina entrepreneur means to them. Additionally, LATINAFest and Z.A. Lawyers have partnered together to select 10 Latina entrepreneurs to attend a luncheon to learn, network, and expand their businesses.
This intimate connection between Latinas and business owners is incredibly important because despite being in a city with one of the highest Latine populations, it’s easy to feel alone. It’s combated in all parts of LATINAFest, whether it’s making friends in line at the food trucks, talking with others at the sip and paint if you’re of age, or even at the kid’s zone if you have younger siblings or children.
I had the privilege of attending the festival last year and it was one of the most empowering moments of my life. I was in the midst of applying to colleges and the idea of being far from my family, likely surrounded by others with very different lived experiences was intimidating as a first-generation student. I doubted myself and my abilities heavily.
At LATINAFest, I had the opportunity to connect with women who’d gone through exactly what I was going through, with women who started their businesses from the ground up and were able to make their dreams a reality. Although I didn’t have the opportunity to connect with everyone, I felt as though I was surrounded by a community that wouldn’t waste a single second in supporting me and guiding me.
The event will take place this Sunday, March 24th from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and tickets will be available until the day of. Parking is available near LA Plaza de Culturas y Artes and it’s easily accessible by Metro. For your accessibility here is a map of the event.