The Festival Del Sol event on Sunday offered attendees the chance to get a window into the local Hispanic community through food, dance, music, art and more.

The Colorado Chautauqua Association hosted the event at the Chautauqua Auditorium as a way to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.

Liza Purvis, director of marketing and communications for the Colorado Chautauqua Association, said the Festival Del Sol was created to highlight how everyone is welcome to Chautauqua, as it is one of the few chautauquas left in the country that is free and open to the public.

“The festival is really a chance to show that Chautauqua is really a place for everyone,” Purvis said.

Colby Ariane, dance instructor at the festival, was hosting Cuban salsa and Dominican bachata dance lessons. Ariane, owner of Savor the Flavor, which offers dance lessons, wants people to appreciate the cultural dances and express themselves through dance. She described salsa and bachata as family-oriented dances and that they are not about performing but rather connecting with others.

Ariane said dance is a great way to break down barriers and get to experience another culture.“Dance is a way to get to experience a little piece of who your dance partner is, even if it’s just a really brief interaction,” Ariane said.

She teaches people how to dance in response to the music, as she explained that the music came before the dances. But more importantly, she wants people to have a good time.

Carla Colin, owner of Mi Casa Azul, said her business brings traditional arts from central and southern Mexico in a fair trade system. She said she does not haggle with the artisans but that she pays the artist what their work is worth.

Mi Casa Azul was selling alebrijes, or wooden figure spirit guides that are hand crafted and painted in Oaxaca, Mexico, as well as jewelry originating from several parts in Mexico.

Colin said that oftentimes, artisans from Mexico are not paid the full worth of their time, labor and skill. She thinks it is important to not only pay the artisans what they are worth but also educate others about the art form.

“We want to make sure we are included (in Boulder County) but also have the community see their art and culture from back in their country reflected here,” Colin said.

She said that the festival is a great way for the local Hispanic and Latino community to see themselves highlighted and celebrated. However, Colin said she is always going to be Latina and that it would be great to see year-round events that celebrate the Hispanic community and not just during Hispanic Heritage Month.