BlogHispanic Canadian Voices
TORONTO. Sunshine and perfect weather welcomed the community early on for the 2026 Latina Fair (Feria Latina), held on Sunday, June 21st at Mel Lastman Square. As the morning went on, families, friends, and visitors from all backgrounds began filling up the square, drawn in by the music, the incredible food aromas, and the festive atmosphere that defines this annual gathering organized by the Hispanic Canadian Heritage Council (HCHC).
For the first time ever, the fair moved away from its traditional home at Wychwood Barns and Park to the heart of North York—a move that required months of extra planning but opened up fresh opportunities for the festival to grow.
Right as you walked into the plaza, you were greeted by booths filled with local entrepreneurs and artisans from all over Latin America. Jewelry, home decor, textiles, and art shared the space with community organizations and consulates from countries like Guatemala, Cuba, Mexico, and El Salvador, all showing up to support the community.
Further inside, food took center stage. From Argentinian choripanes and empanadas to Mexican tacos, Venezuelan chicha, and traditional Panamanian dishes, the fair offered a culinary roadmap through Latin America without ever having to leave Toronto.
The music started early, too, with live performances soundtracking the crowd’s walk through the venue. Meanwhile, the kids’ zone was packed with children taking part in painting, drawing, and archery. Seeing so many enthusiastic families there really highlighted the demand for activities geared toward the little ones.
One of the day’s highlights was the main stage show, which kicked off at 3:00 PM with a Guatemalan Mayan ritual. This opened the floor to a lineup of artistic performances showcasing Latin America’s cultural diversity. Dance groups and musicians from various countries shared their roots with the crowd. Just like in previous years, the performance by Kiin Balam México captivated everyone with their incredible talent, energy, and colorful wardrobe. The stage also came alive with cultural expressions from Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Venezuela, Peru, and Brazil.
Colombia made its mark on stage as well with the group Colombia en las Venas, who performed the mapalé—a traditional Afro-Colombian dance. Including this dance spotlighted a side of Colombian culture that is lesser-known outside the country, reminding everyone of the deep traditions found within every single Latin American nation.
Tying into the 2026 FIFA World Cup—which currently has millions of eyes glued to screens worldwide—this year’s Latina Fair embraced soccer as its main theme. The timing couldn’t have been better: just as the tournament brings nations together on and off the pitch, the fair aims to create spaces where different communities can celebrate what unites them and what makes them unique. Because of this, one of the biggest crowd-pleasers was the FIFA World Cup 2026 Toronto Street Activation, which hosted World Cup-themed contests for attendees.
The event also brought out local officials and government reps. Among them was City Councillor Lily Cheng, who welcomed the crowd and officially opened Mel Lastman Square to the 2026 Latina Fair. Additionally, Vince Gasparro, Member of Parliament for Eglinton-Lawrence, presented an official recognition to HCHC Director Oscar Vigil. In his speech, Gasparro highlighted the Latin American community’s contributions to Canada’s growth and congratulated the organizing team for the positive impact these initiatives have on promoting diversity and strengthening community ties.
What the public enjoyed over a few hours was actually the result of months of behind-the-scenes work. For the organizing team, this edition was a unique challenge due to the venue change to Mel Lastman Square.
The new location meant completely rethinking the layout, coordinating technical details, and making sure vendors, artists, and visitors had a comfortable, accessible experience. In the end, the effort paid off. HCHC team members noted that the new space allowed for much better foot traffic and gave higher visibility to the participating entrepreneurs, organizers, and artists.
Beyond just the change of scenery, organizers agree that the Latina Fair has grown massively over the years. What started as a grassroots community celebration has turned into a platform that boosts entrepreneurship, strengthens the Latin community’s sense of belonging, and introduces Latin American culture to an increasingly diverse audience. “It’s not just Latinos coming out anymore. We’re seeing Canadians and people from all kinds of cultures who want to learn who we are,” said HCHC member Estefany Salazar.
This team effort is also bringing new faces into the fold. Vaitiare Rojo joined the organizing team for the first time this year. Passionate about event production and entertainment, she helped connect the fair with Cirque du Soleil, which joined the festivities by hosting raffles and giving away tickets to their show, Luzia.
The mix of new collaborators and long-time team members reflects a core value that returns every year: the desire to build spaces where the community can connect, share traditions, and celebrate their roots alongside the richness of Latin American culture.
Laura Silva
