College Park hosted its second annual Bailamos! (We Dance) event to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month on Sept. 19.
Nearly 200 residents and visitors gathered at the College Park Woods Clubhouse, which opened in March, to enjoy live Latin music, taco and ice cream trucks, a bounce house and children’s games, according to Councilmember Jacob Hernandez (District 1).
“I think, when you break bread, when you sit down with one another, and you have that opportunity to, no kidding, just engage, it’s a whole other world,” said Hernandez, who is a first-generation Mexican American. “But you’ve got to take that first step. This is the city saying, ‘This is our first step, right? Let’s host something. Let’s show you that we’re celebrating this as a city.’”
Last year’s Hispanic Heritage Month event drew about 500 people, according to the city’s communications and events manager, Ryna Quiñones, who noted that the 2024 festival was held at the larger Duvall Field, which had more parking. That field is under construction and was unavailable, Quiñones said.
Former College Park resident Connor Johnson said the country’s political climate might have discouraged some potential attendees.
“Especially [for] people who are Latino in the community, how is the broader political situation and hesitancy to go out and be visible in the community impacting turnout?” Johnson asked. “But I think having a space just for that, even if people themselves are less comfortable going out … it doesn’t make having the celebration any less important.”
Even the trumpet player for La Rumbera Mayor, Jhonny Ayquipa, said he would have liked to see more people at the event.
“It’s difficult times for, I guess, for everybody,” Ayquipa said.
Johnson’s fiancée, Danielle Delgado, agreed.
“I know that there are other cities that are kind of tapering down what these events are, in light of what’s happening, but, you know, now is the moment where we should be proud, and whether or not the Latino community feels safe enough to come out, it’s great to see that people of other communities and cultures are here to support us, and I think that just is inspiring,” Delgado said.
Berwyn resident Ricardo Morales said dancing on the sloped, grassy grounds of the clubhouse was difficult. He suggested the College Park Aviation Museum as a better venue.
“Over [here] on the grass, it’s hard to dance,” Morales said.
However, that didn’t stop Morales, who has lived in College Park since 1987, and his wife from taking part in the festivities. “I am from Colombia, I have Spanish heritage and [I came] here to celebrate,” he said.
Although Johnson and Delgado moved to Laurel two months ago, Delgado said they want to keep celebrating her culture at College Park events.
“I came here because I want to celebrate what it means to be Hispanic, Latina,” Delgado said. “Right now is a very, very tough time for our community and any opportunity we have where we can bring the light and the joy that comes from our music, our food, our dance moves, I want to be able to share it, and I want to be able to just live in the moment.”