The purpose of the Festival, our signature event, has always been to bring together all the diversity of the Hispanic peoples from the 21 Latin American countries as well as to present to the local non-Hispanic community at large a panorama of our rich heritage and traditions through music, dance and food. It is this sharing of culture for which we strive. All the wonderful folkloric musicians, groups, dance troupes and performing artists that we have had in Lancaster County these past years, along with many “firsts,” is amazing. And the public is responding. From the first year of around 2,000 people to the last several years’ more than 15,000 attendees throughout the day, the response is exciting—families, young people, a variety of Latinos, young and old, and many non-Latinos. And the Festival is enhanced by the many businesses and non- profits sharing what they have to offer to the community.