Plus cut a rug as the event ends with first-ever Cumbia Night
Kendall Whittier celebrates Latin American and Mexican culture with an Independence Day celebration full of art, music, dancing, vendors and free family activities.
Los Festivales y Mercados: Día de la Independencia will take place on Sept. 17 from 1-8 p.m. in Whittier Square parking lot at 1 S. Lewis Ave. The event features food and goods from a local group of multicultural vendors, performances Mexican and Hispanic dance troupes, lotería games and a free Kids Zone.
As the sun sets, the festival transitions into Cumbia Night, with a dance floor and performance by Explosión Musical. The whole event is free and open to the public.
“Los Festivales y Mercados is a three-event series, and our September Día de la Independencia is our biggest, and I think most fun event in the series,” said Jessica Jackson Seay, Executive Director of Kendall Whittier Main Street. “It’s a pretty perfect way to kick off Hispanic Heritage Month!”
The market will begin at 1 p.m. with about 15 vendors selling handmade items, imported good and other merchandise. The Kids Zone will open at the same time.
A few rounds of lotería, which is similar to a Mexican version of Bingo, will begin at 2:30 p.m. Each round will feature fun prizes. Lotería is free to play.
At 4:45 p.m., Danza Santa Cruz will perform, wowing the crowd with rhythmic dancing to the sounds of live drum beats.
Following the performance, the event will begin to transition into Cumbia Night! Starting at 6 p.m., free Cumbia lessons will be offered and then Explosión Musical takes the stage at 6:30 p.m. for a night of dancing that’s sure to please.
“In the past, we’ve hosted Salsa Night in September, so we wanted to shake things up a bit this year and bring Cumbia to Kendall Whittier for the first time ever,” Jackson Seay said.
Mercado vendors may leave during Cumbia Night, and the Kids Zone will close at 7 p.m. The whole event wraps up at 8 p.m.
Día de la Independencia honors seven Latin American countries that celebrate their independence days in mid-September. Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua all celebrate on Sept. 15. Mexican Independence is Sept. 16 and Chile’s is Sept. 18.
Los Festivales y Mercados series is hosted by Kendall Whittier Main Street and made possible because of presenting sponsors Fowler Automotive and the Lawyers of Kendall Whittier. CommunityCare is a supporting sponsor.
The third event in the Las Festivales y Mercados series is Posadas on Dec. 17 in the evening. For more information about the series or to register as a vendor, tap here.
What Else is Going On In K-Dub?
On Sept. 16, the Kendall-Whittier Library, 21 S. Lewis Ave., is featuring a Mariachi band at 7 p.m. followed by an outdoor movie, Ladrones, at 7:45 p.m. Guests are encouraged to bring their own chair and blanket. The event is free and open to the public.
The Tulsa Farmers’ Market has their usual Saturday market the morning of Sept. 17 from 7-11 a.m. at the corner of Admiral and Lewis. Items include fresh produce, meats, cheeses and dairy, fermented items, plants and flowers and more.
Flash Flood Print Studios, 2421 E. Admiral Blvd., is hosting Printer Jam, a two-day celebration of all things printmaking, on Sept. 17-18. The inaugural event will include print and zine vendors, a showcase exhibition, workshops, and plenty of opportunities to hang out with your favorite Oklahoma printers.
Addis Ceramics, 2212 E. Admiral Blvd., has “A Vessel of Gratitude,” a cacao ceremony and talk with author and speaker Steve Napolitan, on Sept. 18 from 4-6 p.m. The event is ticketed.
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