Grupo Latino celebrates Colombian culture

By Justin Seward - Lethbridge Herald on July 23, 2024.

Herald photo by Justin Seward Mi Colombia Linda performs Colombian dances during the Bandeja Paisa Latin Rock Fest on Saturday at Galt Gardens.

Grupo Latino Lethbridge celebrated everything Colombian with traditional food and dances along with Latin rock music in a party-style environment at Galt Gardens on Saturday.

The Bandeja Paisa Latin Rock Fest focused not only on the music, but also on a popular Colombian culinary dish of the bandeja paisa, which is a breakfast and lunch combo of foods and most commonly eaten in Medellin, Colombia.

“We are creating something that all the Colombian people can come in here and then celebrate the day (of) independence and also that no matter where you are, you still got to be proud of where you (are) coming from,” Patricio Sarmiento, event organizer from Grupo Latino Lethbridge.

Grupo Latino’s events are based on food.

“We’re so proud of it,” he said.

“Let’s say the taco festival is all about the tacos, now it is the bandeja paisa and it is Independence Day of Colombia, so there you go.”

Not only food, but dance is a big part of the culture.

“If you put (on) a song from there, they’ll be dancing all night long,” said Sarmiento.

“You got to see the harmony, that happiness, that being together. It doesn’t matter where they are, they’re still happy, they still enjoy themselves and that’s what Colombia’s all about.”

Attendees could listen to the likes of Carlos Santana, Soda Stereo and Mana among others, while Mi Colombia Linda performed Colombian dances in their colourful outfits.

To Sarmiento’s knowledge, the Colombian culture in Lethbridge is decent.

“I know the Mexican one is one of the largest but the Colombian one is probably the third biggest,” he said.

Grupo Latino will be hosting their next festival Aug. 10 when Independence Day of Ecuador will be celebrated and after that on Sept. 14, an event will be hosted for the Independence Day of El Salvador, Honduras Costa Rica and Mexico.

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