Fiesta Latina Fills Pub 26 With Music, Dance, and Community Spirit

The sound of live music, laughter, and dancing spilled out of Pub 26 in Welches on September 19, as neighbors gathered for Fiesta Latina, an annual event honoring Latino and Hispanic heritage on the mountain.

Guests enjoyed food and drink specials courtesy of Pub 26, colorful decorations, and a packed dance floor energized by the lively northern Mexican music of Los Nuevos Palomitos. Raffle prizes from local businesses helped support Mt. Hood Unida’s ongoing programs.

Now in its fifth year, Fiesta Latina has become a vibrant tradition that brings the community together. Mt. Hood Unida president Cristina Saldivar credited vice president Jenny Corona for planning the event, and for its success. “Jenny has been such a wonderful addition to our team,” Saldivar said. “Her energy and vision really helped bring Fiesta Latina to life this year.”

The partnership with Pub 26 played a key role in the evening’s success. Owners Jared and Lizzie not only hosted the gathering but embraced the spirit behind it. “It is really important for me as an individual in Mount Hood, and for our community, to support the people that support us – and that’s what Jared and Lizzie and their team do at Pub 26,” Saldivar said. After the event, Jared shared on Facebook: “Mt.Hood Unida knows how to get a party going! Thanks again to everybody who came out. That was so much fun.”

Mt. Hood Unida has become a trusted voice for equity, inclusion, and cultural enrichment on the mountain. Its programs range from mutual aid efforts during the pandemic to scholarships and educational gatherings like Fiesta Latina. Saldivar said the goal is to create spaces where Latino residents feel not just welcomed, but valued and recognized.

For Saldivar, Fiesta Latina is about more than music and dancing. “We want joy, wellness, and belonging for our community, for our kids to feel that their culture is something beautiful and rich,” she said. “Events like this remind people that you are safe, you are welcome, and you are celebrated.”

The event, originally focused on Mexican Independence Day, September 15, is observed across Mexico with El Grito – a rousing “shout of independence” in town plazas. As organizers sought to recognize other Latin American cultures on the mountain, Fiesta Latina evolved into a broader showcase. “The event grew into something bigger – a space to embrace all of our stories,” Saldivar said.

This year’s gathering drew one of the largest crowds yet. Special thanks went out to Pub 26, Skyway, Mt. Hood Baking Co., Cooper’s Wine Bar, Molly O’s Sourdough, The Burke Cabin Rentals, Alice Fletcher, and Cassie Kanable for their contributions.

By the end of the night, the floor was full and spirits were high, and Pub 26 still echoed with laughter and music – a reminder that culture, music, and belonging make the mountain community stronger together.