The Coalition of Latino Leaders, CLILA, will hold its third Latino Taste Festival on Saturday, Sept. 10 in downtown Dalton, featuring traditional authentic Latino food from different regions of México, and other countries like Perú, Venezuela, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Uruguay, and more.
The venue will be located at the corner of Hamilton Street and Crawford Street, next to Dalton Depot.
Latino Food Vendors will start serving at noon and will continue until 8 p.m. Traditional music and dances will be performed by groups from different Latin American countries and regions.
"The Festival is a result of a true community effort, with regular people –moms, grandmas, men and youth who are cooking and showcasing delicious dishes from their hometown, and many passionate volunteers.
"Dalton is a diverse city, where a vibrant Latino population thrives and contributes in many aspects to the fabric of the city. Most Latinos in Dalton are from Mexico (about 85%), but there are many other countries represented, such as Guatemala, El Salvador, Colombia, Venezuela, Perú, Uruguay, and more. Even though we are all Latinos, we are very diverse too from country to country. And even within each country, there are many different regions and traditions.
"The Third Latino Taste Festival will celebrate the Latino colorful authentic food, so you can taste savory dishes, or sweet, or tangy, or creamy, or spicy, or mild, but all delicious. Come and enjoy music, dances and food with other cultures. We recognize ourselves as living in a beautiful country and city that we love dearly, while at the same time we value our history and roots.
"Latin American countries have rich and complex cultures from at least 15 centuries ago, and there is too much to learn and share, from the ancient Aztecs, Mayans and Incas to the Mestizos, through different tribes and ethnic groups. The food and the performances are a reflection of those cultures," officials said.