A free festival of Latin culture - from music and dancing to authentic foods - will kick off Hispanic Heritage Month at Chattanooga State Community College. This fifth annual Latin Festival will take place Saturday, Sept. 14, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on campus, 4501 Amnicola Highway.
Visitors will enjoy local Latino culture with live music, dancing and hands-on activities for all ages. Lily Sanchez of La Paz will emcee the event.
There will be performances of traditional dances from El Salvador and Puerto Rico, Latin- American songs and Bachata dance instruction. Additionally, the East Lake Expression Engine, Chattanooga State Choir and Symphonic Band will also entertain visitors to the festival.
Get a true taste of Latino food from vendors selling empanadas, arepas, tamales, pollo loco, nachos, tacos, quesadillas, Mexican-style chargrilled chicken, street corn and paletas (natural Latin-style popsicles).
Operation Get Active, a program of the Chattanooga Football Club Foundation, will have inflatable soccer fields for 3-on-3 play with CFC-themed prizes for teams that win more than five games in a row.
Proceeds from this event support the Chattanooga State Latino Scholarship.
For more information, email latinfestival@chattanoogastate.edu.
Festivals this weekend
SEPT. 13-15
* Blue & Gray Barbecue and Festival: Gordon-Lee Mansion, 217 Cove Road, Chickamauga, Ga., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, free admission, additional cost for barbecue, benefits Friends of the Mansion; barbecue, crafts and food vendors. Tours of mansion 10 a.m.-4 p.m., $5 adults, $1 children. 423-488-0861
* Craft Fair: First Baptist Church of Fort Oglethorpe, 2645 LaFayette Road, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, free, Sew Much More Crafts and Vendors Sale with 20 vendors. 706-866-0232
* Fried Green Tomato Festival and 5K: Downtown Niota, Tenn., 7:30 a.m. Saturday 5K road race, $25; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. festival, free, food and craft vendors, petting zoo, pony rides, beauty pageant, green tomato cook-off, music. https://www.funtober.com/fest/niota-fried-green-tomato-festival/
* International Cowpea Festival: Charleston City Park, 103 Worth St. NE, Charleston, Tenn., 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, free; cookoff, crafts and food vendors, family fun field, music. https://www.cowpeafestival.com/
* White Oak Crafts Fair: Arts Center of Cannon County, 1424 John Bragg Highway, Woodbury, Tenn., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. CDT Saturday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. CDT Sunday, $3 includes parking; 75 artists exhibit along the banks of the East Fork Stones River, new young artists tent this year for children. http://www.artscenterofcc.com/whiteoakcraftsfair.html