Fiesta in the Garden: Celebrating Hispanic Heritage and Culture at MLEC
By Hector Ramos
On September 18, 2026, MLEC’s courtyard came alive with festivities in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. The event, called “Fiesta in the Garden,” was a celebration of the traditions, history, and impact Hispanic communities have had at the school and worldwide.
Fiesta in the Garden was organized in collaboration with the Activities department and the Hispanic Heritage Club. With their partnership, they changed MLEC’s courtyard into a brilliant display of colors and heritage, including the use of traditional handcrafted decorations such as the Mexican papel picado.
Students and staff alike walked through the garden to purchase traditional Hispanic food such as platanitos and pan con lechon, play dominoes, enjoy performances by Flow Latino and the Jagettes, and more. Fiesta in the Garden provided students across all grade levels to celebrate their heritage, and others to learn about the heritage of such a large percentage of the Miami population.
Additionally, Fiesta in the Garden featured a live DJ set playing traditional Hispanic songs across a variety of different genres, time periods, and countries of origin. With music in the atmosphere, many students began to dance or sing along to tunes, which contributed to the freedom of expression the event was meant to foster.
MLEC’s own Journalism and TV Production students also began to record live videos and take photos of the event, capturing candid moments across all of the student body. Some students also participated in interviews, where they shared their experiences in the celebration of their heritage, or how Hispanic culture has affected their lives.
“My favorite moment of the Fiesta in the Garden was eating pan con lechon and enjoying the Flow Latinos salsa performance. These activities made me feel connected to my roots because I saw how many other students around me also share the same culture,” said sophomore Renee Diaz-Ramirez.
Globally, honoring Hispanic Heritage has become an integral part of communities worldwide. With over 500 million Spanish speakers globally, Hispanic culture is no stranger to influencing art, commerce, politics, and research. Despite its influence, Hispanic culture is often overlooked or oppressed in favor of dominant cultures. Hispanics worldwide are often subject to discrimination or abuse by employers, governments, and society.
As a result, celebrating heritage on global and even local scales directly reduces cultural erasure and empowers Hispanic individuals to take pride in their roots. Hispanic Heritage serves as a reminder that when cultures interact, creativity and understanding flourish. Additionally, celebrations of cultural heritage–even those that are not Hispanic–create a global society that is more accepting of change and is united while facing a period of great divide.
“Living in Miami, I think that seeing the community come together this month to celebrate my heritage makes me very proud of my Cuban roots. It’s also nice to see how so many local restaurants add Latino dishes to their menus for a limited time in celebration of the culture around them,” said Miami Lakes resident Clara Valdes.
As the festivities came to a close, the vibe around MLEC’s hallways was still filled with a kind of laughter only achievable when the student body felt free. Fiesta in the Garden was not only a school celebration of Hispanic culture, but it was also part of a larger movement towards the acceptance of ethnic cultures.
