The five-hour celebration runs from 2 to 7 p.m. Saturday at Antelope Park with live entertainment, food, local vendors, community organizations and activities for all ages.
By Hola Nebraska
LINCOLN, Nebraska — Lincoln’s annual Latino Festival returns Saturday, Sept. 12, with five hours of free food, music, cultural activities and community programming at Antelope Park.
The festival will run from 2 to 7 p.m. near the Shildneck Bandshell at 1630 Memorial Drive. Admission is free, and the event is open to families and community members of all ages.
| Latino Festival 2026 | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026 |
| Time | 2–7 p.m. |
| Location | Antelope Park |
| Address | 1630 Memorial Drive, Lincoln, NE 68502 |
| Admission | Free |
| Organizer | El Centro de las Américas |
Food, music and cultural performances fill the five-hour festival
The Latino Festival celebrates the different cultures that make up Lincoln’s Latino community through food, music, dance, art and live entertainment.
Local food and merchandise vendors will operate throughout the afternoon, while organizations from the Lincoln area will have booths offering information and community resources.
The event also includes interactive activities. This year’s program features a Hot Sauce Eating Contest, along with other family activities planned throughout the festival.
LUX Center for the Arts will also participate in the event. Artist in Residence Jose Galvan Martinez created a custom linocut celebrating Latino heritage, and visitors to the LUX booth will be able to use ink and art tools to make a print to take home.
The festival is part of Lincoln’s Welcoming Week
Latino Festival 2026 is part of Lincoln’s Welcoming Week, a series of community activities centered on connection among longtime residents, immigrants and newcomers.
El Centro de las Américas organizes the annual festival as part of its broader work with Latino families in Lincoln. The organization provides community assistance, citizenship classes, GED support, youth leadership programs and health services.
Families looking for another Latino cultural celebration in Nebraska on Sept. 12 can also see Hola Nebraska’s guide to Omaha’s El Grito celebration at Gene Leahy Mall, which runs from 4 to 10 p.m. the same day.
Antelope Park provides parking near the festival area
The festival will take place near Antelope Park’s Shildneck Bandshell. The City of Lincoln lists parking among the amenities available at the bandshell area.
The park also includes playgrounds, trails, gardens and other public spaces surrounding the festival site.
Current festival details and any schedule updates are available through El Centro de las Américas’ Latino Festival information.
The Latino Festival runs from 2 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, at Antelope Park, 1630 Memorial Drive in Lincoln.
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