As a young child, I always enjoyed going to the summer festivals with the sun shining in my face and my hair blowing in the breeze. From childhood to young adulthood I can truly express that the joy of the festival experience has only grown for me. This summer, I attended Norfolk’s Latino Music Festival and it was everything I imagined and more. The stage was immaculately decorated and there were glowing light fixtures strewed across the perimeter. Food vendors were displayed across the entire field filling the air with aromatic scents. Lively music pulsated the ground encouraging me to dance with jubilance. Every aspect of the festival was aesthetically brilliant.
Norfolk’s Latino Music Festival was truly a wonderful experience and a thrilling celebration of the Latin culture. It was everything that I envisioned with lots of vendors, great entertainment, and a beautiful summer day by the water. But, one of the most important things to do before going to any festival is to find the perfect outfit to make the most out of your festival experience. With that in mind, I began aimlessly searching for a free flowing jumpsuit. I wanted this jumpsuit to float with the wind and move with me while I was dancing to the music. Luckily for me, I found the perfect one piece to showcase at the festival. This serene, blue jumpsuit had the perfect level of comfort and overall style. The simplistic, cream embellishments were just the right amount of flare, allowing the movement of the jumpsuit to really stand out. The additional flap on the top of the one piece added volume and texture to the overall look. The gold accessories also accented the simplistic elegance of the outfit. I definitely recommend finding an outfit that is very comfortable so that you will be able to enjoy all the activities at the festival. I also recommend wearing flat shoes because you’ll be doing a lot of walking around to check out the different vendors. I chose cream, crochet styled sandals that were dressy enough but also good for walking. My ensemble allowed me to enjoy all the aspects of the festival, especially the food.
The food vendors had a variety of Latin classics that brought the authentic experience to the festival. The classics like empanadas and tacos were all featured at the event, but I had to indulge in the elote (street corn). This street corn was grilled and coated in creamy, cheesy goodness. As you can see from the pictures, I devoured this irresistible, Latin treat. I’ll definitely be making elote at home as it would be a great alternative to the traditional corn on the cob for any holiday.
Along with intriguing decorations and delicious food, the entertainment truly energized the crowd. Entertainment was showcased on the beautiful stage as well as on the field. Each performance group did a wonderful job of keeping the crowd engaged and encouraging everyone to dance. While all the entertainment, the food, and the decorations were top notch, it’s even more fun when you’re celebrating with family and friends. So for me, my favorite part of this whole experience was sharing this memorable moment with my mom, my friend, and her mom. They are the ones who made this festival a joyful celebration. Thank you so much to my beautiful friend Sofia and her mom for making my girl’s day at the festival a wonderful experience.
Gabrielle "Bri" Pinkney 