The French Market has partnered with Ecos Latinos to host the inaugural Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration. The celebration will take place at the French Market Flea Market on Saturday, September 17, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. featuring Hispanic and Latino cultural programming, curated food booths, and family activities.

Ecos Latinos has curated a full day of programming representing five countries. Performances will include:

11 a.m. Julio & Cesar Duo | Guatemala

12 p.m. Aquarela 4tet | Brazil

1 p.m. Alexis Guevara and Son Mandão | Cuba

2 p.m. Arpa, with Angel Rios and Bodoma Garifuna Connection| Honduras

3 p.m. Merengue 4 | Dominican Republic

“Collaborating with the French Market for the Hispanic Heritage Festival has been a pleasure, due to the market’s rich cultural history and our city’s centuries-long legacy of contributions by its Hispanic citizens,” said Carlos Valladares, founder of Ecos Latinos. “Diversity, culture and richness is what New Orleans is all about…come and join us at the Hispanic Heritage Celebration with live music and food.”

The celebration will feature flavors from Hispanic and Latino counties for sale by six local restaurants including Numada, serving oxtails with white rice salad and plantains (oxtails cooked with curry garlic coconut sauce including potatoes and carrots with white rice fried plantains and cabbage salad); Ju Saporito with pastelitos de carne molida (ground beef, rice, and potato wrapped in maseca topped with red cabbage, pico de gallo and salsa); and La Milpa with pupusas and yuca fries.

“We are thrilled to partner with the Ecos Latinos to bring the Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration to the French Market,” said said Jeremy Smith, director of marketing at the French Market.” The French Market serves as a cultural hub for the city, not only for events, but through our vibrant community of vendors and shop owners from around the world that proudly represent New Orleans. What better way to celebrate our cultural diversity than to host culture bearers at our site to share their stories,”

The festival is free and open to the public. For additional details, visit www.FrenchMarket.org.

The French Market District spans from the Shops at the Upper Pontalba on Jackson Square to Crescent Park, including the Shops of the Colonnade on Decatur Street and the open-air farmers and flea markets. The District is open daily and offers an eclectic variety of shops, eateries, and events year-round.