The Fiesta Festival

On Saturday, September 16th, 2017. In Washington D.C on Constitution and Pennsylvania Avenue many cultures gathered for a festival better known as the Fiesta Festival. To many this event is most known for recognizing the Latino community, but once you experience it for yourself you realize that all cultures are present and enjoying each other. With a parade happening and the dancing of many different Latino cultures in the street, I read shirts that said "El Salvador" and "San Simon" with many different flags present including the America flag. Walking up and down Constitution avenue you can hear the family members of the parade participants screaming and cheering them on. With about 70 percent of the population being Latinos from all different parts of Latino born cities and countries I witnessed a different environment then what I am accustomed to being from the city. Floats rode down the street with Latino pageant winners, I saw one young lady and read her banner and it said "Miss Chiquita." Latino dressed military came uniformed along with the parade, one holding an American flag and another holding a Latino flag.

 In the parade there were children dancing alongside older people. There where middle aged Latino dancers, elderly dancers, and also very small young dancers. The parade was a very good representation on the coming together off different cultures. If you were to look around at the people not in the parade you'll see people dancing, smiling, just having a very good time with love ones, with strangers, with kids, pets, or just to themselves. 

 

You had waves of different Latino cultures displaying very different dance routines, they were all dressed differently, but they all danced and waved hello, and kept a smile on their face. They danced up the street blocks ahead while friends and coordinators ran giving them bottles of water as they slowly dance-walked. Drinking and dancing you knew they were tired but looking on their faces you could never tell, as they danced nonstop. The dancing and parade continued for hours as more and more people came out to get a glimpse of the greatness happening in Washington D.C. There had to be about 200,000 people out on the streets looking and cheering. It was completely amazing; it was a sight to see. There you learn a lot about other people outside of what you are used to. I saw advertisement signs in the parade, I saw police officers controlling the crowd, I saw young kids with their parents enjoying their selves, and most of all I enjoyed myself.