Round Lake church's Fiestas Patrias will celebrate Hispanic culture

St. Joseph Catholic Church in Round Lake will host its annual "Fiestas Patrias" Sept. 18-19 to promote Hispanic cultural heritage.

The festival, which also is a fundraiser for the church, will be held outdoors on St. Joseph Parish property at 114 N. Lincoln Ave. The festival is scheduled from 10. a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 9 p.m. on Sunday.

It will include a food court, live music, the "Queen of Fiesta Patrias" beauty pageant, and other family activities. A parade will begin at noon on Sunday starting at Cedar Lake Road and Golfview Drive in Round Lake Beach and traveling down Cedar Lake Road to the Metra parking lot next to A-Tire.

"They always have a ton of great food and something for the whole family to enjoy," Mayor Russell Kraly said. "It won't be as much of a crowd this year because of COVID, but we still think it's going to be a wonderful time."

Although the festival celebrates all Hispanic cultures, Fiestas Patrias is primarily a celebration of Mexican independence from Spain in 1810.

Several local businesses are promoting the celebration, such as Silvia's Boutique Artesanal, which will provide dresses for the pageant, and Julio's Mexican Restaurant, one of the food vendors for the event.