Don’t forget your piñata bat; this year’s Latino Heritage Month festival is sure to blow minds.

When it comes to Latino culture, Latino Quest knows their heritage. This year, like every year since 2005, the club will put on a festival in order to raise awareness towards various stereotypes concerning the Latino population.

“The purpose of Latino Quest is to create a home for not only Latino students, but for students of all races,” said Lucia Pulido, Latino Quest sponsor and history teacher, “This helps to build social stability and deconstruct stereotypes. Thus ensuring student equality.”

The annual Heritage Month Festival will occur on Nov. 1. Last year’s assembly consisted of skits and dances all based around Dia de los Muertos, or, the Day of the Dead. This year’s festival has the same theme, Dia de los Muertos, but with new acts.

“Last year was great,” said Pulido, “There was a spectacular turnout, the biggest piñata was just not enough and I really think we got our message across.”

Every year there is a new show with new dancers, student performers, skits, and many other acts. In the mix this year there will be a Bolivian dance group and a DJ. Among the student performers, there are those who dance, read poetry, perform monologues, etc.

“It’s really about the students,” said Aracely Canchola, social worker. “There are over 21 Spanish speaking countries and to highlight the variety in one show is no easy feat. But for the students to get up on stage and really express themselves and their culture, that is what it is all about.”

Although the show is different every year, there will always be a Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) altar in the main lobby informing students about the festival creatively.

“The altar helps [other] students [and staff] to ask questions: ‘What is this?’ ‘What is it supporting?’ ‘Who made it?,’ etc., thus raising awareness and helping students find their way to our festival,” said Pulido.

In 2000, a small group of Latino students feeling cut off from their classmates created a support group, an academic resource for students of any ethnicity. Thus, Latino Quest was born.

“They [Latino students] just come to school and do school, but never really feel connected. The festival gives students a chance to share their culture and shine on stage,” added Pulido.