Dancers from Ballet Folklorico Azteca show off their colorful dresses and fancy footwork on a stage at Celebration park during the first Dublin Hispanic Heritage Festival last week. The three-day event saw hundreds come out as it kicked off with a rodeo at the City Park Arena, featured a full day of activities that started at 7:30 a.m. and went until late that night and concluded with faithful messages and songs in Spanish and English for Christ Across Cultures on Sunday morning. See more photos of the fun on Pages A7 and A8. Paul Gaudette | Citizen staff photo
Events at the inaugural Hispanic Heritage Festival included a soccer tournament for which the winners were awarded a five-foot trophy (top left), live cooking demonstrations such as a flavorful chile relleno prepared by Celia Perez (above, posing with Blanca Martineau of CCMC who sponsored the demos, a salsa making contest with proceeds benefitting the Sound of Dublin Band, an early morning parade (left, middle) and a wide range of dancers performing through the Ballet Folklorico Azteca (bottom left). Paul Gaudette | Citizen staff photo
Crowds converged on Celebration Park to get lots of great treats from vendors and to take in live entertainment. The spot also hosted an energetic clown that led kids through many activities and pinatas (below, left). The City Park was also crowded with people and animals Friday night for a rodeo tied to the festival. Paul Gaudette | Citizen staff photo