'El Grito' Festival: Celebrating Mexican Culture in Downtown Phoenix
- Andrea Galaz Arevaldo
- Oct 7, 2024
- 2 min read
Está todo en el ambiente. Everything is in the culture.
On Sunday, September 15, Hundreds of Arizonans gathered in Downtown Phoenix as the city closed 3rd Avenue and Addams St. to celebrate Mexico’s “Grito De Independencia” and kick off Hispanic Heritage Month.
“El Grito” is a joyful community culture event held for the people created by Councilwoman Betty Guarado. As the fourth highest Hispanic populated state, Arizona’s intention with the festival is to display the versatile cultures that Phoenix is home to.
From early afternoon to late evening, music is played throughout the festival; Balie Folclorico, Lucha Libre, and Micharachi for the crowd. Vendors from all over the Phoenix Valley joined in ‘El Grito’. Their food left an aroma that could be smelled by guests from down the street.
First-time attendee and owner of Empolvodas Sweets, Diana Castaneda, said that food is important in connecting the people of Phoenix to Hispanic culture.
“If you think about it. Hispanics, our food is just everywhere, you know… to be able to combine American candy with our culture… it's just everything. Castandea said.
Castaneda started her business in hopes of connecting the people of Arizona to a part of her heritage. She specifically mixes the American candies with eight different types of chile powders straight from Mexico.
In addition to sweets, “El Grito” had a wide variety of food options available with influences from Mexico, Salvador, Puerto Rico, Colombia, and several other Latin countries
One of the first vendors to sell out for the night, Mujer Bonita Catering, focuses on Colombian empanadas with a Mexican twist. Marissa Lopez of Mujer Bonita Catering shared her surprise at the demand and curiosity for Colombian food at a Mexican event.
Lopez highlighted how thankful she was for the warm welcome she received as a Colombian business surrounded by Mexican culture.
“It was surprising because it's not very common to have Colombian empanadas at a Mexican event,” said Lopez. “We are very, very happy with the outcome.”
Vendors who sell at “El Grito” are able to share aspects of their home countries through the festival. Irma Banvastro, owner of Birreria Las Marias, said that being able to contribute to “El Grito” helps sate the longing for her home country.
“[I’m] here to represent our food and our culture.” said Banvastro. “It’s really nice to see everybody with their colors and this beautiful weather and this beautiful state, and knowing that we're not home, but we're a little bit home.”
In the crowd, strangers danced together, friends shared drinks, and families dressed head to toe in green, red and white. One attendee held a Mexican flag draped over his shoulders as he celebrated in a larger group.
“Porque hoy es puro México. No es un estado, es puro Mexico. [Today is all Mexico.]” he said.
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