Before classes began, hundreds of Latino families gathered on Sunday, August 2nd at Durham Latin Festival 2026, a celebration that filled Durham Central Park with music, dance, culture and Latin American flavors.
More than a festival, the event became a space to strengthen community ties and celebrate the diversity that characterizes the city of Durham.
Organized by the Durham Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) and El Centro Hispano, the day offered artistic performances, folk dances, gastronomy, crafts and activities for all ages.
The celebration also served to support those preparing for the new school year.
As part of the annual campaign of Back to school Thanks to El Centro Hispano and Univision 40, more than 200 backpacks with school supplies were given away free of charge to children in the community.
Inclusion and community
For Pilar Rocha-Goldberg, president and CEO of The Hispanic CenterThe city of Durham's support for the festival reflects the recognition and inclusion of the Latino community.
“For us, it’s also super important to be supported by the city of Durham, because that shows inclusivity, that we are welcome here,” Rocha-Goldberg told Enlace Latino NC.
“What’s also great about the event is that many non-Latino people come to enjoy our music, our folklore, and our food, so it means a lot to us,” he said.
In addition to offering music, dance, and gastronomy, Durham Fiesta Latina 2026 brought families closer to community resources and health services.
Attendees were able to visit dozens of local organizations to obtain information about various programs and access health check-ups, reinforcing the community character of the festival.
A showcase for small businesses
The event also served as a platform for Small business locals and artisans would make themselves known.
Luzdary Robinson, from the business LuzCarpateli, dedicated to the production of handmade soaps, shared her enthusiasm with Enlace Latino NC
“I am very happy because it is an opportunity I had to showcase my products, which are handmade soaps, and grateful to El Centro Hispano, which is giving an opportunity to small businesses or those of us who are currently starting our businesses.”
Amarilis Feliu, a Cuban woman who recently arrived in the country, found in the event a boost for her handmade textile production business, Textil Legacy:
“It’s a great opportunity for women who are at home and are creators. It’s a way to showcase our work and show it to the world, and not just within the home.”
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Connecting with the community
Enlace Latino NC She was also present at Durham Fiesta Latina 2026 with an informative space, where she shared with attendees the journalistic work she does and presented the tools and resources it offers to the community.
In addition, he held a raffle for two tablets among the people who registered during the event.
The lucky winners of the raffle were Nubia Gómez and Cristal Gómez Pérez, who each received a tablet as part of this initiative to thank the community for their support of the journalistic work of Enlace Latino NC.
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