25th Annual Festival Latino returns to Ogden Park this weekend

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The 25th Annual Amigos International Festival Latino returns to Wilmington this weekend with two days of food, music, dancing, and family fun at Ogden Park.

The free event runs from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday at 615 Ogden Park Drive, with shuttle service available from Enoch Chapel Missionary Baptist Church on Market Street.

Festival founder Lucy Vasquez says the popular celebration continues to grow and attract families from across the Cape Fear region.

“It’s not your average little tiny festival,” Vasquez said. “We have great food, and we have like over a hundred exhibitors in the different areas. It’s a very big festival.”

Vasquez says the event highlights international culture, not just Latino traditions, as organizers expand the festival’s focus.

“We’re slowly transitioning to the Amigos International—underlining international—festival,” she said. “We’re looking for people to join us and make it truly international, not just Latino.”

Families can enjoy the Kids Fiesta, featuring piñatas and the Mexican Hat Race every hour, along with inflatables, games, and prizes.

“Kids that used to come and play on the inflatables have all grown up and are now bringing their kids to the Kids Fiesta,” Vasquez said.

The festival also includes live bands, dancing, and cultural performances throughout the weekend.

“If you like to dance, come at two, because it’s a whole hour long of dancing,” Vasquez said. “Sunday is our amateur night, so if you just want to come up and sing, we make room for that.”

Vasquez says it’s the atmosphere—and the food—that keep people coming back year after year.

“It’s just a great atmosphere of sharing and enjoying a day,” she said. “The food is really what brings people out. It’s food that you don’t find around town from countries that we don’t have a restaurant for yet.”