11th Latino Taste Festival to ‘spice’ up downtown Dalton tomorrow, Oct. 4
Published 10:48 pm Thursday, October 2, 2025
On Saturday, Oct. 4, the Coalition of Latino Leaders (CLILA) will hold its 11th Latino Taste Festival in downtown Dalton.
Locals are encouraged to enjoy traditional authentic Latino food from different regions of Mexico and other countries such as the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and more.
The venue for the event is located at Burr Performing Arts Park on the corner of Hamilton Street and Crawford Street. The festival will include approximately 70 food vendors and handcrafts, plus several local agencies.
In 2024, almost 8,000 people attended the event.
Latino food vendors from the community will start serving at noon and they will continue until 5 p.m. Visitors can enjoy traditional music and dances performed by groups from different Latin American countries and regions as well. Featured dancers include groups representing Peru, the south region of Mexico, CLILA’s youth folk dance groups, Aztec dancers and a band, as well as other groups coming from Atlanta.
The Festival is a result of a true community effort, with regular people, including mothers, grandmothers, men and youth who are cooking and showcasing delicious dishes from their hometown, and many passionate volunteers.
Dalton is a diverse city, where a vibrant Latino population thrives and contributes in many aspects to the fabric of the city. Most Latinos in Dalton are from Mexico (about 85%), but there are many other countries represented, such as Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Uruguay and many more. Even though all are considered Latinos, each country is very diverse. Even within each country, there are many different regions and traditions.
The 11th Latino Taste Festival will celebrate colorful and authentic foods, music and dances. Visitors are encouraged to enjoy music, dances and food with other cultures, while recognizing local residents living in a beautiful country and city, and valuing Latino history and roots.
Latin American countries have rich and complex cultures from at least 15 centuries ago and there is much to learn and share, from the ancient Aztecs, Mayans and Incas to the Mestizos, as well as different tribes and ethnic groups. The food and the performances are a reflection of those cultures.
Food vendors include Mexican plates, including traditional tacos, as well as pozole – a náhuatl word for hominy which is a traditional pre-Spaniard colonization soup or stew – and the traditional tamales, enchiladas, and mole, which typically contains a mixture of chiles, nuts, seeds, unsweetened chocolate, tomatoes, raisins and various spices.
Representing Venezuela will be traditional arepas – a flatbread made of ground maize dough or cooked flour served with various garnishments. Pupusas will be sold at the festival, too, which is a traditional food from El Salvador made from finely ground wheat or corn flour. Other El Salvadoran dishes include an exotic dish made from the yucca root.
CLILA is the only Latino non-for-profit organization of its kind in Northwest Georgia, working in Dalton since 2006. CLILA is an honest voice for the local Latino community, not moved by personal or group interests. It promotes Latinos’ civic participation and cultural diversity, while improving the quality of life for Latinos and offering opportunities for Latino leadership development. CLILA also fights for equal opportunities while providing various services, including English classes, citizenship classes, entrepreneurship assistance and business development.
CLILA members also visit legislators to talk about issues that affect the community and the nonprofit houses a very active voter registration/education project, among many other services.
Sponsors in 2025 include the Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union, Georgia United Credit Union, Kinetic, Shaw Industries, the Community Foundation of Northwest Georgia, the Latin American Chamber of Commerce Georgia, the Roper Corporation, Alliant Healthcare, Believe Greater Dalton, the Georgia Association for Primary Healthcare and others. This year, some churches will join us in prayer at the festival.
CLILA is also thankful to the Downtown Dalton Development Authority for allowing the festival to take place on the streets of downtown Dalton to showcase food and music.
