Latin music and the smell of pupusas and gorditas filled Bosse Field on Saturday.
By dinnertime Saturday, over 1,500 people had come through the gates at Bosse Field and that was before the three biggest name bands took the stage set up on the outfield grass.
Alejandra Mosqueda was there with her friends. She says she comes every year and missed it last year when the event was canceled because of the pandemic.
“I think with the whole pandemic thing, it’s great that we can all enjoy something together. I think it’s pretty important.”
Organizer Brant Flores says they felt like they had to hold the festival this year in order to keep it relevant.
“It’s become a staple of the Latino community here in Evansville, and even in the Anglo community, it’s one of the go-to festivals.”
Co-organizer Daniela Vidal says one of the HOLA festival success stories are the food vendors.
“We don’t charge them anything to be here. They keep all their proceeds, to kind of help them start their own businesses. And now, we’re seeing it. We have a number of restaurants and food trucks that have started at the festival.”
There were nearly thirty food vendors at this year’s festival. Vidal says it’s lot of work, but it’s worth it to see the community come together.
