This Saturday, September 19th, the 5th Hispanic Heritage Festival will be held on the Public Square in Downtown Monmouth. United Way of West Central Illinois Executive Director Jeannie Weber highlights the evenings events:
“We have ten vendors. The festival itself is going to be taking place primarily in the BCA quadrant. Our entertainment is going to be Ballet Folklorico, they will be performing at five o’clock. Prior to Ballet Folklorico, Ximena Ramiras is coming back. She is nine years old and can belt notes out like she is 25. After Ballet Folklorico, we will have a little break, do our Proclamation in English and Spanish for Hispanic Heritage Month. Marlon Davila is our Emcee. Finally at the end, we are bringing in Keith Patterson,” states Weber.
During the event, the Buchanan Center for the Arts will be announcing the winners of their judged Hispanic Heritage Month Art Competition, shares Executive Director Ann Tenold:
“In preparation for the Hispanic Heritage Festival, we launched an art competition. We called for Hispanic artists to turn in some artwork for all Hispanic Heritage Month. It is now going to be exhibited in the Buchanan Center for the Arts window. We had it judged by Nikki Ponce. At the very beginning of the Festival, we will be able to announce the winners of that. We made t-shirts and we also made tote bags that will be available in front of the Buchanan Center. We will also have tables for children’s activities, temporary tattoos, and take and make kits,” Tenold adds.
The Hispanic Heritage Festival will take place from 4 to 9 pm in Monmouth. Entry is free and open to everyone.
United Way of West Central Illinois and Buchanan Center for the Arts are hosting the fifth Hispanic Heritage Festival, which will be held September 19th, 2026 from 4 PM to 9 PM at the Public Square in Monmouth. Monmouth’s Hispanic Heritage Festival is the largest event of its kind in the region.
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; and DJ Keith Patterson, who is originally from Monmouth as well as a graduate of Monmouth College.
Up to a dozen 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.
Buchanan Center for the Arts is helping coordinate the event this year with United Way. On display is an art exhibit called “Nuestras Historias y Arte Desde el Corazón.” This was a judged exhibition of local Hispanic artists. The winners of the exhibit will be announced on stage during the festival. BCA will also have a children’s art table and take-home projects available.
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: G&M Distributors, Dave’s Auto Body, Midwest Bank, Abner’s, 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, United Way executive director, at 309.599.1506 or jeannie@wcunitedway.org.
***Courtesy of the United Way of West Central Illinois***
