A team of five passionate Latinos in Medicine Hat, with years of friendship behind them, are hosting Medicine Hat’s first Latin Festival on August 15, 2026. 

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Anabell, Carlos, Carmen, Marvin, and Milena, the group of people behind Mi Gente YXH Association, have long shared the vision to host a free, family-friendly Latin Festival in Medicine Hat. 

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It came to fruition when they were approved for the City of Medicine Hat’s Vibrancy Grant in winter of 2026.

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Inside Medalta in the Historic Clay District, a National Historic Site, the brick walls and outdoor courtyard will be the location for salsa dance champion Maxwell Aguilar, who will host beginner salsa classes and bachata workshops, and Manny V. Y Su Esquina Latina Band, who will fill the space with salsa, meringue, bachata, and cumbia music. 

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Mariachi performers Gisela Romero and Antonio Bobadilla Amaral will also take the stage.

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“When I first met Anabell, this was her dream. We love to show who Latinos are, and we want people to learn more about our culture. It’s important to us to invite everyone and include everyone as much as possible,” says Carmen Bonilla, President, Co-Founder and Marketing Director, Mi Gente YXH Association.

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A variety of locally owned eateries will serve guests, like El Super Taco (which recently won the Sello MX award from the Government of Mexico for serving authentic Mexican food abroad). And Mi Gente YXH has partnered with Medicine Hat Brewing Company to serve the official beer of Latin Fest, the Mi Gente Cerveza Mexican Lager.

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Face painting and free pinatas were specially booked for the Kid’s Corner. 

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“I think of our next generation; I want them to love their identity and their story. And that’s a big part of the celebration for me, and wanting to share it with everybody. We want the community to feel that welcoming embrace to experience it with us, whether it’s for the first time or being Latino is rooted in their heritage,” says Anabell Marroquin, Treasurer, Mi Gente YXH Association. 

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When the local Latin group partnered with Patricio Sarmiento for Taco Fest in June 2026, the event saw over 1,000 people in attendance. The group has also met people who attend their year-round events visiting from surrounding areas, from Bow Island to Brooks. 

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“We’re bringing something new to Medicine Hat, and we’re showing our culture and how beautiful it is, from the dance, to the music, and the food. That’s what’s so exciting about the festival,” says Milena Diaz, Vice President, Co-Founder, and Co-Lead Marketing, Mi Gente YXH Association.

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Along with working alongside the Association as Director of Events and Cultural Programming, Carlos is known as “DJ Zaga” and will play a live set at the festival for everyone to hit the dancefloor, “It’s always great to see people having fun at the events we host.”

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It’s the first year for the Latin Festival in Medicine Hat, but Anabell, Carlos, Carmen, Marvin, and Milena have hosted events and connected with other Latino organizations for two years.  

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“It’s surreal, and we’re really proud of what we’ve done. We’ve worked hard, and we want everyone to join the Latin Festival and have a good time. Everybody’s welcome,” says Marvin Bonilla, Secretary and Volunteer Coordinator, Mi Gente YXH Association. 

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For more details about Latin Fest Medicine Hat, follow Mi Gente YXH Association on Facebook and Instagram.