West Cook News

The outdoor celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month will take place from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, September 28, on the south lawn at Village Hall, 123 Madison St.

Attendees can expect entertainment, food, and activities for children during the event, which aims to embrace the diverse cultures found throughout Latin America.

Live music and dancing will be featured, with a performance by dancers from the Center of Peruvian Arts to kick off the event at noon. Later, the Trabuco Salsa Band will perform from 1-2:45 p.m.

Other highlights include food trucks, vendors, face painters, and a pinata. For the latest details about the event, visit www.oak-park.us/HispanicHeritage.

Oak Park’s ¡Viva! Festival is hosted by the Village in partnership with local volunteers. Any organizations interested in hosting a resource table during the event are encouraged to contact community@oak-park.us.

Community members interested in volunteering to help plan or assist on the day of the Village’s special events can visit www.oak-park.us/communityevents to sign up.

National Hispanic Heritage Month takes place from September 15 to October 15. The month celebrates the histories, cultures, and contributions of Americans whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. The Village Board is expected to read a proclamation in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month at its next meeting on Monday, September 16 at 7 p.m.

The Oak Park Public Library is also hosting several events to highlight Hispanic Heritage Month including conversation hours, Loteria Night (September 24), and ¡A Bombear se ha Dicho! (an Afro-Puerto Rican Bomba experience on October 12). For more information about these and other special events, please visit the Oak Park Public Library's website.

For more information about the Village’s celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, contact the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at 708.358.5405 or community@oak-park.us.

About Oak Park

The Village of Oak Park, located just nine miles west of downtown Chicago, offers a distinctive urban/suburban lifestyle in a thriving multicultural community. Well-known for progressive values, tree-lined streets and bustling business districts, Oak Park serves as an ideal place to live, work and play. As a longstanding community of choice, the Village benefits from convenient access to local and regional transit systems; high-quality public schools; and arts and cultural attractions including Frank Lloyd Wright’s home and studio as well as his acclaimed Unity Temple which was recently designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.