United Way of West Central Illinois is hosting its fourth Hispanic Heritage Festival, which will be held September 20, 2025 from 6 pm to midnight at the Public Square in Monmouth. Monmouth’s Hispanic Heritage Festival is the largest event of its kind in the region, with an estimated crowd of up to 6,000.
The Hispanic Heritage Festival is a free event open to the entire public. All vendors are from the Hispanic community. Vendors were not asked for a fee, because part of the design of the event was for members of the Hispanic community to share their goods and services, while learning more about how local business works. This includes providing necessary documents for the city and the health department.
Entertainment will run all night and includes: Marlon Davila Cantante Soloista, who will serve as emcee, Ximena Salinas from the Chicago area, Quad Cities Ballet Folklorico; DJ Joseph & Friends, and Banda Perla Del Sur from Des Moines, IA.
Other activities include bull riding, also provided by a local Hispanic-owned business.
Thirty vendors will be present and are encouraged to sell their food/merchandise at a fair price and each vendor keeps their proceeds. This event is not a United Way fundraiser, but rather an opportunity for the entire community to celebrate Hispanic food, music, art, and dance performances.
Expenses for the Hispanic Heritage Festival are not supplemented by United Way campaign funds. Rather, grants, sponsorships, and other funds for this event are raised in advance. Sponsors include: Smithfield Foods, G&M Distributors, Dave’s Auto Body, Midwest Bank, and Norris Sound and Lighting. United Way of Western Illinois would also like to extend appreciation to the City of Monmouth, Monmouth Police Department and Auxiliary, who will be present at the event.
For more information, contact Jeannie Weber, executive director, at 309.599.1506 or jeannie@wcunitedway.org.
***Courtesy of the United Way of West Central Illinois***
