PASCAGOULA, Miss. (WLOX) - The Coast Hispanic and Latin American community filled Beach Park for Festival Hispano de Pascagoula, putting their culture on full display.
Live bands carried the celebration, marking Hispanic Heritage Month and the culture that’s rooted in it.
Frances Rea is new to the Coast. She says the festival left her feeling empowered.
“To see Mississippi celebrate our culture, it’s beautiful. We’re all united, we all become one, and that is the beauty of it,” she said.
But Rea wasn’t the only one.
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“I’m really grateful for where I am from, and it just makes me feel wonderful like we’re all just one big family,” Pascagoula Resident Diego Santos said.
The smell of popular Hispanic food like tamales, burritos and tacos reeled in lines to the food vendors.
Honoring Hispanic Heritage began as a week-long celebration, which was observed until 1988 under President Ronald Reagan, who designated September 15th to October 15th as Hispanic Heritage Month.
Rachael Rangel enjoyed the day with her mom’s business, Cultural Boutique, selling clothing with a touch of Honduras and Mexico’s heritage.
“It’s really beautiful to see people appreciate a different culture, and it’s really nice to see people from my own culture come and support us,” she said.
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“I just think it brings a sense of community and unity, which I think is amazing,” Rangel said.
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