Four years ago, David Herrera, a music business professor at Belmont, recognized the need for a street fair in Nashville.

    Today, that need has been fulfilled with a street fair on Belmont’s campus known as Fiesta Belmont, an event that celebrates Hispanic culture with musicians, dances, food and festivities. Fiesta Belmont has been previously recognized as “Nashville’s largest Latin Street Fair,” and Herrera said it is the longest one running, with this year’s festival marking the fourth year.

    “It has been really good throughout the years,” Herrera said. The net profits made go to social programs for scholarships, like the YMCA Hispanic Achievers Program.

    Herrera mentioned his gratitude of support for Belmont University, The Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business, and sponsors who include Sam’s Club and the Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. 

    “As it is now, Belmont helps me tremendously with marketing.” Herrera said. “I couldn’t do it without them.”

    Fiesta Belmont will take place on Saturday, May 3, just two days before Cinco de Mayo. The music at the event will range with latin bands playing different styles, from pop to salsa.

    Herrera described the food from vendors as very authentic, as it’s mostly made by families. In addition to music and food, you can expect to see piñatas every hour, dance performances by children dancers and face painting for children to enjoy. “My daughter is eight years old; she loved it,” Herrera said.

    More is in store this year as there will also be awards given out through out the day by The Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. 

    Herrera mentioned that success for the event is measured through how many people in the community, including students, attend.

    “I would encourage students to come out and bring friends and family,” Herrera said. “I would like to see more Belmont students come.”

    Students who have gone in the past years had good memories of Fiesta Belmont. Senior music business major Valerie Loera attended last year and recalled what she liked most about it. “It was so much fun, and it was good to see the Latin culture celebrated and embraced.”

    She also said she was excited to see what Fiesta Belmont was going to be like this year and to “hear new Latin bands from the area, and, of course, eat some great food.”

    Isabel Perez, a sophomore music business major also went last year and is looking forward to attending again this year. “They had great food. I saw a lot of people that I knew and met others as well,” she said. “I had fun watching people dance and listening to music.”

Getting There
Fiesta Belmont will be on Saturday, May 3, from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. on the Quad in Belmont’s central campus. For more information, visit Fiesta Belmont’s Web site at: www.latinstreetfair.com