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Local Latin and Hispanic events featuring Boricua Fest on July 21st
A strong community is an equal community! Part of Birmingham’s beauty is its diversity and its Southern blend of cultures. Check out some of the awesome organizations and events happening this summer in the Latin and Hispanic community. Â
Rumba Latina Birmingham
Rumba Latina Birmingham organizes Latin events for pride and celebration. This Saturday, they will be hosting Latin Night at Saturn starting at 9 p. m.! On Saturday the 14th at 6 p.m., they will put on another event at Avondale Brewing Company called Freedom Independence Party celebrating Columbia’s independence from Spain. You can expect live music, DJ’s and more! These events are fun for everyone, not just those a part of the Latin community. Latin Night is open to all, and Freedom is 18+. Buy tickets for Latin Night here and for Freedom here!
Tropicaleo
A Puerto Rican cuisine kitchen in Avondale, Tropicaleo is hosting several exciting Latin and Hispanic events for all of Birmingham to enjoy. Tropicaleo and Miami Fusion Cafe were both featured in our Caribbean food guide! Yum.
Every Friday, Tropicaleo puts on Bembé Latin Night starting at 4 p.m.! Whether salsa music runs in your blood or you’ve never grooved to a Latin beat, Tropicaleo is here to make sure you have a great time. With lessons and live DJ’s, the restaurant hosts the free event right in their back patio. Dance all night to salsa, merengue and bachata!
Tropicaleo is also partnering with Poppy Colon on July 21st at noon to bring you Boricua Fest, the first ever Puerto Rican festival of its kind in Birmingham! The family-friendly event will also be at the restaurant. Filled with food, music, and special vendors, Boricua Fest will feature opportunities to connect with all sorts of people in the community. Featuring artists like Poppy Colon, El Soldado, Xionex and Blacc King, the festival will be fun for everyone. Get your tickets here!
Check out the bumping back patio:
Miami Fusion Cafe
Still not confident in your skills? Miami Fusion Cafe houses Corazón de Alabama, a dance studio right above the restaurant! They offer bachata and salsa dancing classes every Tuesday and Thursday. Starting in July, the instructors will teach bachata on Tuesdays focusing on footwork at 6 p. m. and dancing with partners at 7 p. m. The same goes for salsa on Thursdays. Check out their page for pricing and more.
The restaurant of course is a great place to hang out, eat, and listen to music.
¡HICA!
¡HICA!, the Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama, is a nonprofit focusing on bringing Birmingham together with the Latin and Hispanic community. From rallies to seminars, they seek to educate, include, and unify. They have several civic and economic programs dedicated to this cause. Take a look at their website for what they provide to the community.
CACAO
The Central Alabama Caribbean American Organization, or CACAO, aims to bring awareness to the Caribbean-American presence in Birmingham. Many of the islands in the Caribbean are Hispanic and Spanish-speaking. We went to the Magic City Caribbean Festival, one of their biggest events, and it was an incredible display of culture and pride! They are also a resource for assisting Caribbean students in Alabama.
UAB SALSA
The UAB Spanish and Latino Student Association, aka UAB SALSA, is a club at the university that promotes diversity and inclusion on campus. In 2017, they even won Program of the Year! Although they’re dormant over the summer, stay tuned for more fun, informative events starting back up in the fall!
Did we miss anything? Let us know which events you love most!
