By Trish Svoboda/Images courtesy of Warriors for Youth, Inc.

Wichita’s Warriors for Youth organization is gearing up for its seventh annual Latinfest ICT this Saturday, September 6, from 1pm-10 pm at Evergreen Park in Wichita. The festival aims to connect Hispanic youth with their heritage while providing the community with an opportunity to explore the diverse cultures of Latin America.

Angela Martinez, Latinfest ICT director, said Warriors for Youth started in 1998 as a youth athletics program, offering children from kindergarten through eighth grade the chance to participate in sports and travel for competitions- including a national football championship in 2008. “They participated in leagues and traveled throughout the US over the years, participating in national youth sports. We had an eighth-grade team that was the first football team to travel outside Wichita and win a national championship, so we’re really proud of that,” said Martinez.

Over time, the organization expanded to include cultural enrichment programs and character-building initiatives, leading to the creation of Latinfest ICT. “We feel like it’s important to assist a child in being well rounded. And that means not just being busy with extracurricular activities, but being proud of who they are, their heritage, their culture, their community, their family.”

This year’s festival will feature performances by Rika Rumba from Tampa, Florida and Paradize Band from Topeka, as well as folkloric showcases by Wichita natives Mexico En Mi Corazon and Raices De Mi Tierra. The Wichita High School North Band and Wichita High School Northwest Orchestra will also take the stage.

Festival-goers can sample local cuisine from diverse cultures, including Mexican, Puerto Rican, Colombian, Honduran, and Guatemalan. Other activities include cooking demonstrations, a historical exhibit on Mexican migration to Wichita, games for children, a car show, and educational opportunities about Latin American traditions. Attendance is estimated at roughly 2,500 people, depending on weather.

Warriors for Youth welcomes volunteers and donations to support the festival and its programs. Volunteers can sign up by emailing latinfest.ict@gmail.com, and donations help fund Latin Fest and youth athletic programs for children who may not otherwise have access.

This year, the festival will be held at a local park for the first time, offering more space for performances, activities, and family fun. “Come out and have fun and bring your lawn chairs and enjoy the fun!”