The Alderman quad echoed with the sounds of Latin music and excited voices Sunday afternoon as the Carolina Hispanic Association hosted Carnaval, its annual celebration of Latinx culture.
Carnaval is CHispA’s annual culmination to Hispanic Heritage Month — held on the last day of the celebration — and includes performances, food, games and information tables for CHispA’s partner organizations.
Isabel Salas is the chair for the cultura subcommittee of CHispA, and is the chief planner for Carnaval. She said she has planned Carnaval since this summer and has worked with the cultura committee for the past couple months.
The event was donation-based. She estimates the event cost was $500, and some of the performers provided their services free of charge.
“Most people were generous in our community,” she said. “They really want to help celebrate Latinx Heritage Month and they’re willing to perform to celebrate the culture and the beauty of it all.”
Among the performers were El Pueblo Salvadoreño, Omega Phi Beta, Qué Rico and Flor y Canto. The performers demonstrated dances from various countries and cultures, including indigenous cultures.
“My twist on Carnaval focuses on our culture, but also has an emphasis on our roots,” she said. “To be Latino is a mix — you aren’t just one thing. Many people have indigenous roots.”
Carlos Restrepo is on CHispA’s Cultura committee and was the committee chair last year. Restrepo said he was proud of how Carnaval has grown in the years he has been involved.
“It’s actually gotten a little bit bigger, because we’ve involved more people and more organizations,” he said. “I’m just amazed by how many people were able to make it.”
