Latin Culture Fair transports students into new experiences with food, dancing, alpacas

In one room was an enormous volcano powered by dry ice. In another was a bioluminescent bay birthed of recycled materials and luminescent paint. And in the hallway? Two alpacas.
The third annual Linden Avenue Middle School Latin Culture Fair transported students to far away lands through interactive experiences, entertainment and food. The March 5 event was the product of Spanish teacher Liz Lowney’s International Club, as well as contributions from student artists and the help of other staff, family and Martha Tepepa of the Ofrenda Project.
Students traveled with their grade band, spending 30 minutes each at three main areas – the cafeteria, the gymnasium and classrooms.
This year’s edition featured rooms and experts teaching students about the bioluminescent bays of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, Mexico’s Popocatepetl volcano, and the mystery of the lost city of El Dorado in South America. The bioluminescent room featured blacklight decorations and a 3D-printed tunnel simulating the experience of kayaking in the bays; the volcano took up most of Lowney’s classroom and was surrounded by student volcano projects; and the El Dorado room was not only draped in gold but also student art. Next to El Dorado, students took part in repujado – or metal embossing – of milagros corazones sagradas – hearts that represent hope, eternal love and beauty.
“The classrooms were set up as a geographic tour through Latin America,” Lowney said. “I was hoping to really give them an opportunity to look at the indigenous roots that we see through Latin America – how those are infused into the culture and the daily experiences … and nature.
“I was hoping to really highlight that and how those things change as you travel south through Latin America, while also giving them an opportunity to talk to people who have lived those experiences,” she said.
In the gymnasium, students watched a demonstration of the Argentine Tango and many at the end of the sessions had a chance to get up and try it for themselves.
The cafeteria featured eight tables of food and drinks, as well as tables with representatives from community organizations that included several of the event’s sponsors. The food options included tacos, empanadas, flautas, street corn, chips and salsa, guacamole, arroz con habichuela, pao de queijo, churros and flan, with drink options Jamaica and horchata. All was crafted by restaurants Sabroso, Misto, Alma’s Tacos, Arango Café, La Ruto del Sol, Santa Fe and school community members
.In the hallway outside of the cafeteria, students were able to pet a pair of alpacas from Clover Brooke Farm in Hyde Park. Alpacas are indigenous to South America, specifically Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador.
Lowney said the best part for her was seeing students’ reactions.
“We heard a lot of ‘Oh my gosh, how did they do that?’ or, ‘Oh, this is a part that I worked on’ or ‘I made this drawing’ or, ‘I did this thing,’” she said. “I think watching them get so excited about that was really special to me.”
Ben Nickerson, an eighth-grade student and member of the International Club, has been a part of organizing the event all three years it has been held. Nickerson thought this year’s event “finally nailed the scheduling,” giving students the proper amount to experience each aspect.
“Everyone enjoyed it,” Nickerson said. “That’s one of the coolest parts about Latin Culture Fair is when you can see everyone enjoying the different cultures and everything.”
The current ninth and eighth grades played a key role in each iteration of the fair. As those students will all be at the high school next year, Nickerson said there is room for the event to change with “new voices… that will bring new points of view.”
Sponsors enabling the event included the Red Hook PTSA, the Red Hook Education Foundation, the Red Hook Rotary, CultureConnect, The Ascienzo Family Foundation and Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley.
Lowney was thankful for all the help she and the club received in making the fair a success again.
“We had a lot of people helping out,” she said. “With all the snow days it’s been very tricky getting it done.”