GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — Carnival rides, a car show, boxing matches and the smell of birria tacos filled West Fourth Street this weekend as the 4th Street Festival returned to Grand Island in the middle of Hispanic Heritage Month.
The three-day festival ran Friday through Sunday at 602 W. Fourth St., from 11 a.m. to about 9 p.m. each day. It featured live music, contests, food vendors and local businesses. Hispanic Heritage Month is observed nationally from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 and honors the history, culture and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans.
Organizer Agustin Sanchez, owner of Tacos Los Hermanos, said this year marks the festival’s fifth edition.
“We get the community together,” Sanchez said. “Thank you to our sponsors, because without them it wouldn’t be possible.”
Sponsor banners lined the stage, including Woodhouse Honda & Toyota, State Farm agent Melissa Reed, Five Points Bank, Union Bank & Trust, Allo Fiber, Premier Rental-Purchase and Grand Island Vapors.
Sanchez said he put the festival together in about three months. Rain slowed Friday’s turnout, but he said crowds packed the grounds Saturday night.
The festival reflects a community that has changed significantly. More than one-third of Grand Island’s roughly 53,000 residents are Hispanic, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates.
Sanchez, who also owns a restaurant known for its birria tacos, said his business tries to give back to the neighborhood, including letting children hold fundraisers and raffles outside the store.
“We’re more than a restaurant,” he said. “We look out for the community.”
For some vendors, the festival was a chance to test a new venture. Christi Lewis, owner of Cookies & Crochet by Christi, said she baked about 600 cookies over the past week for the event. Her cookies included peanut butter cookies stuffed with peanut butter cups and peanut butter and jelly cookies made with strawberry jelly.
“It’s been pretty steady and it’s really fun and enjoyable to be out on the town,” Lewis said.
Sanchez said he let her set up for free for one day so she could decide whether to return next year. She started her business this year.
“Baking has always been something that I’ve loved doing,” she said. “So, I thought I’d try bringing it out to the town and try something new.
If you would like to be a vendor, visit 4thstfestival.com
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