The Parker Chamber Foundation is hosting the Fiesta Parker, a one-day festival celebrating Latin cultures.
Courtesy of Parker Chamber Foundation
Douglas County residents won’t have to travel to Denver to attend a cultural festival as Fiesta Parker transforms the community into a lively showcase of culture, bringing together food, music, dance and heritage in a festival that honors the diversity and enduring spirit of Latin communities.
“I really want the community itself to be able to see what a beautiful culture it is,” Lana Paggen, owner of Venalonzo’s Tacos, said. “Latin culture in general, it’s vibrant, it’s fun, it’s about celebrating.”
Fiesta Parker will be held from 1 – 7 p.m. on Aug. 22 outside of the Parker station, located at 19751 Mainstreet for families to experience different cultures together.
“I think it’ll be really different from all the other things that people have become used to attending in downtown Parker,” T.J. Sullivan, president and CEO of the Parker Chamber of Commerce and Foundation, said. “This will be something with a different flavor.”
The idea of Fiesta Parker grew through conversations between the Parker Chamber Foundation, chamber leadership and members of the newly formed Latino Business Committee.
As Parker continues to see growth in the Hispanic and Latino community, Sullivan said the Parker Chamber saw it as an opportunity to create something new that not only showcases local businesses that aren’t always front and center, but celebrates culture.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly one in eight Parker residents identifies as Hispanic or Latino, more than doubling in the last 25 years.
The Parker Chamber Foundation states Fiesta Parker was created to celebrate that growing community while welcoming residents of all backgrounds to experience Latin culture.
“It’s been fun having different voices excited about an event that we’re doing,” Sullivan said.
Whether it’s expanding restaurants or doing nonprofit work, Paggen said that her family has been embedded in the community and when she learned about a potential town cultural festival, Paggen wanted to be a part of it.
“I want to be part of something that is groundbreaking,” Paggen said. “That represents my family’s culture.”
For Paggen, who is also a Parker resident and a Latino Business Committee member, Fiesta Parker is an opportunity to show the community authentic Latin culture.
She said organizers met several different times, pitching ideas and later vetting vendors and performers to ensure the culture was represented well.
“I want people to see it for what it truly is, from the inside out and the history behind it,” Paggen said. “I think to be able to bring that here to Parker, that, for us, is something really special.”
What to expect
From music to food to dancing, families will get to experience the energy and excitement of Latin culture during this Parker Chamber Foundation event.
Fiesta Parker will highlight Latin culture through food, music, dance and art.
Courtesy of Parker Chamber Foundation
“This is about Latin America,“ Peggan said. “Whether it’s Venezuelan, Honduran, Nicaraguan… We’re really trying to make sure that we bring a wide variety.”
The festival will highlight the diversity of Latin food with more than a dozen food vendors serving cuisine from across Latin America and Spain. To accompany the food, there will also be beverage stands featuring unique drinks for both kids and adults.
Venalonzo’s Tacos will also be there with a booth. In partnership with the seasoning Tajin, samples and coupons will be distributed.
Paggen said guests will experience all the human senses at the festival as attendees will also be introduced to traditions from many different countries.
Live music will fill the streets with performances by DJ Jorge Cruz, Chimbangle, Banda Rockera La Negra, iZCalli and Colorado Youth Mariachi.
The festival will include artisan and marketplace vendors, lucha libre wrestling, children’s activities like face painting, cultural exhibits, two 30-minute street dancer performances, and a breakout Zumba party.
“Those little touches that we’ve added into this, in between the band changes, are going to be things that people have never seen before,” Paggen said.
While the event is ticketed, Paggen and Sullivan said they would love to see the event become as popular as Parker Days.
In the meantime, there are some perks when purchasing tickets for Fiesta Parker, including that kids under 12 are free with an adult ticket purchase.
VIP tickets, which are $60 when purchased online in advance, or $70 at the gate, are for those ages 21 and older. These ticket holders will receive two complimentary drinks of their choice and have free appetizers from the Hispanic Restaurant Association Chefs from 1 to 4 p.m.
General admission tickets are $35 when purchased in advance online and $45 at the gate, and entry will begin at 2 p.m.
Additionally, every adult ticket purchased will be entered to win a four-day and three-night trip to Jalisco, Mexico.
Tickets, VIP experiences and additional event information are available at FiestaParker.com.
Funds from the event will support the Parker Chamber Foundation, which has raised more than $150,000 to donate to local nonprofits since 2003. Proceeds will also support specific initiatives of the Latino Business Committee.
Aiming to become a long-term community event, Fiesta Parker has brought together business leaders, volunteers and community organizations with a shared goal of creating a celebration reflecting the diversity of Parker.
“We want people to come hungry, dance, discover something new and simply enjoy spending the day together,” Sullivan said. “This is about celebrating culture while creating an experience that helps everyone feel welcome.”
