On Saturday, September 13, from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m., Marion’s main street in McDowell County will be filled with music, dance, and traditions during the 2025 United Cultures Festival.
Organized by the Latin American United Center (Centro Unido) together with community partners, the event is presented under the theme “United After Helene.” The motto highlights the importance of resilience and unity in the wake of the devastating passage of hurricane.
The festival will offer a diverse program with traditional music and dance performances. There will also be food and craft stalls, raffles, community resources and a special vigil in honor of those still facing the recuperación.
In addition, Centro Unido will be receiving applications for the project JIREh, which offers direct financial assistance to those who suffered damage from the storm.
Among the most anticipated guests will once again be the show Mexico in the Heart, which this year will bring more than 70 artists from Guadalajara to Marion. Its performance will include mariachi, folkloric ballet, and a band, as part of its national tour.
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A festival marked by resilience
El Hurricane Helene, which struck North Carolina in September 2024, caused millions of dollars in damage. It affected thousands of homes and paralyzed numerous communities in the western part of the state. According to official figures, more than 100 people died and tens of thousands of families received emergency assistance.
In this context, the festival is seen as an act of cultural and community resistance.
“This year, the spirit of United Cultures is the resilience”After Helene, we’re more united than ever,” said Margarita Ramírez, executive director of Centro Unido. “This year we want to celebrate culture, unity, and the strength to move forward despite the many storms we face as a community.”
The festival’s history began in 2022. It was first organized around the unveiling of the first Latino mural in McDowell County.
Two years later, the event moved to downtown Marion and in 2024 drew more than 4,000 attendees. Its growth has been such that it now enjoys the support of the city and the Police Department. Culturas Unidas has thus become a community tradition on the local calendar.
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community voices
In addition to the organizers, the latin community has highlighted the importance of these spaces.
Yolanda López remembered what participating in the festival meant to her: “Being immigrant “It’s difficult in this country, sometimes you feel disconnected, but I really felt good being here surrounded by people with the same culture and traditions.”
And he stated: “This space reminds us that we are not alone, that our unity as a community makes us stronger, and that our representation is essential to keeping our voices and roots alive.”
For Angélica Reza, president of the board of United CenterThe festival’s value lies in its power to unite. “For Latinos, it’s an opportunity to reconnect and celebrate our culture. For those who aren’t Latino, it’s an invitation to experience the beauty of our culture firsthand,” he noted.
An open invitation
The event is free and open to the public. The organizers invite local merchants, artisans, and organizations to participate as vendors or sponsors. The goal is to continue strengthening Marion’s neighborhood economy and cultural life.
With music, dance, food and community, United Cultures 2025 It seeks to be a reminder. Even after the storm, resilience and culture are engines of unity and hope.
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