A dose of Latin spice this weekend

Festival Latino debuted 25 years ago when Latin American culture still seemed exotic in Baton Rouge. Today, tens of thousands of families from Mexico to Argentina have made the area their home, introducing locals to all manner of exotic foods, music and traditions. Festival Latino, taking place this Sunday on the grassy campus of the Catholic Deaf Center on Brightside Drive, began modestly with only three booths. Today, it attracts 3,000 visitors annually. This year’s event features a performance by Milly Quezada, the Dominican Republic’s “queen of the Merengue.” There’s also a performance of the Latin ballet Verde, election of Miss Festival Latino and a karaoke contest—not to mention tons of delicious food that’ll have your tastebuds singing. Learn more at festivallatinobr.com.