SALSA to Celebrate Latin American Culture at Barrio Fiesta

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Illinois Wesleyan University’s Spanish And Latino Student Association (SALSA) hosts its 8th annual Barrio Fiesta on Saturday, Feb. 2 from 6 - 9 p.m. in the Memorial Center’s Young Main Lounge. This event is free and open to all current IWU students and prospective students.

Each year, SALSA’s Barrio Fiesta celebrates the food, music and traditions of four countries in Latin America in order to showcase the diverse cultures within the region. This year’s highlighted countries are Puerto Rico, Cuba, Ecuador and Argentina. The event will include dinner, music, traditional dances led by students and faculty members, poetry readings and a special guest performance.

Prospective students who attend Tú Universidad!, also on Feb. 2, from 10:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., are invited to attend the Barrio Fiesta as a chance to engage with current students and experience firsthand the impact that SALSA has on the campus community. Tú Universidad! is designed to help Latinx students and their parents learn more about the University community, the admissions process and all financial aid resources.

SALSA hopes the Barrio Fiesta will show prospective Latinx students that there is a supportive student community waiting for them, even before they step on campus as first-year students.

The Spanish and Latino Student Association is an RSO dedicated to increasing awareness and emphasizing Latin American culture, achievement and history at Illinois Wesleyan University. Any student interested in learning more about Latin America is encouraged to attend weekly meetings on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. in State Farm Hall 201.

By Rachel McCarthy ’21