HICKORY, N.C. — Hickory's downtown Sunday was alive with music, dancing and families as the city held its first Hispanic Heritage Festival. 

What You Need To Know

  • Centro Latino in Hickory celebrated the city's first Hispanic Heritage Festival 

  • New executive director Gianella Romero says the event aimed at showing Hispanic culture, food, art and sense of community​

  • This year's slogan was "Todos Somos America" "We are all America"

The host of the event was Centro Latino, the organization has been around for over 10 years, but is being revitalized by new executive director Gianella Romero. 

“This is so exciting. This year’s slogan is ‘Todos Somos America’ which means ‘We are all America,’ and we aim to show our music, art, food and sense of community," Romero said. 

Tuesday during the city’s council meeting, Mayor Hank Guess will be officially proclaiming Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 as Hispanic Heritage Month for Hickory. 

“It’s part of the culture of the city of Hickory. We have a big Hispanic community and we want to be part of that. We want everybody to be welcomed and invited, not just to our downtown but to our city, and this is part of it,” Guess said.

Children were able to hit pinatas at the festival and several booths from different Hispanic countries were on display.