Be entertained at VIVA! Beaumont

Beaumont Events, the City of Beaumont’s events services department, hosts more than 500 events a year at six city-run venues and produces more than 70 city-sponsored events and festivals for the public to enjoy. Any weekend, anytime of year, you can find plenty to do around town.

One of the newer, yet most exciting events has become the VIVA! Beaumont – Hispanic Heritage Festival, which is scheduled for Sunday, April 30, from 3-8 p.m. on Main Street in downtown Beaumont. The best part? It’s free to attend.

“We are excited to offer this festival to the entire community as we celebrate Hispanic heritage,” said Emily Wheeler, director of event services. “Beaumont is a diverse and vibrant community, and this serves to highlight that aspect of our city.”

The festival will offer authentic music, local artists, food trucks and family friendly activities for all ages including the traditional Hispanic card game, Lotería – a traditional game of chance, similar to bingo, but uses vibrant images on a deck of cards instead of numbered ping pong balls. The game originated in the 15th century and was brought to New Spain (modern Mexico) in 1769.

Popular musical group Sandy G y Los Gavilanes from Houston, Texas, will perform high-energy Tejano and cumbia music throughout the day. The band made their debut in 2013 at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo headlining the Hideout Stage where more than 5,000 were in attendance. She has shared the stage with Tejano legends La Mafia, Emilio Navaira, Jay Perez, Fito Olivares and many more.

There will also be live salsa dance performances, plus be prepared to be entertained by high-flying Lucha libre wrestlers including Estrella Galactica, Diego De La Cruz, Jonathan Vega LX7 and Adan Vega.

A variety of food trucks will offer delicacies for all to enjoy and beer and micheladas will also be available for purchase. Come hungry and treat yourself to Ashley’s Chamoysito, La Real Michoacana, Mabel's Snow Cones and Mexican Treats, Chito’s Ice Cream, Homeplate, Tacos El Primo, Spyders Kabobs, Super Antojo Bakery, The Dude’s Food and Rudy’s Kabob.

It was 2021 when a new event for the city, which became a bright light in an otherwise dim world during the pandemic, was created. This year, VIVA! Beaumont – Hispanic Heritage Festival will be bigger and better than ever.

Admission to the event is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets. No outside alcohol, tents/canopies, large umbrellas, pets or cooking equipment will be permitted.

“We invite the community to come out and enjoy the activities like loteria and Lucha wrestling, as well as all the live music and food trucks,” said Wheeler. “We are so appreciative of all the sponsors who make this event possible – ExxonMobil, Telemundo, Del Papa Distributing, Hyundai of Silsbee and Giglio Distributing.”

-Chad Cooper, Entertainment Editor