Latin Festival brings flair to Gastonia

Gaston County's growing diversity was on full display Saturday at the Second Annual Latin Festival.

Hundreds of people turned out to the WOW Supermarket on West Franklin Boulevard for the event that featured food, live music and dancing, as well as mechanical bulls, vendors and connections to community organizations.

Gastonia Police helped promote the event as part of its ongoing outreach to the Latinx community.

"Continuing to be more involved in the community is the key component to establishing closer relationships with the police department and its community," said Gastonia Police Officer Alvaro Jaimes.

Gaston County's Hispanic community grew by more than 64% between the 2010 and 2020 census, from 7,800 residents to more than 20,000. People who identify as Hispanic now make up almost 9% of the county's almost 228,000 residents.

The influx of Latinx residents has seen economic growth for businesses catering to that group. For example, WOW Supermarket, one of the largest Hispanic/Latinx supermarket chains in North Carolina, cited the county's growing diversity when it located here in 2016.

You can reach Kevin Ellis at 704-201-7016 or email him at Kellis@GastonGazette.com.