(ABC 36 NEWS NOW) — September 15 through October 15 celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month, during the month, many honor and celebrate the culture, history, and contributions of the Latino community. About 4% of the population in Kentucky are Hispanic. “It’s amazing how when we get together, the energy and the feeling is amazing,” says the president of Casa de la Cultura, Mercedes Harn. It’s a month long celebration to honor the culture, and contributions of Hispanic Americans to the U.S. and the celebration is also recognized here in the city of Lexington. “Casa de la Cultura is a non profit organization, that helps to promote Latin culture here in Lexington, Kentucky,” she adds. Teresa Hendricks is the founder and owner at Lucia’s Imports and Lucia’s World Emporium, after visiting and living in Guatemala, she came back home to Lexington to open a business alongside her husband Eduardo del Pinal. Pinal is from Guatemala. “All our products are made by artisans in developing countries,” added Hendricks. The store aims to help artisans with their products. “We have a mission, we’re a for-profit, but we also know that the work that we’re doing, it’s going back, and helping the artisans in the developing countries. And then also, people that are of Hispanic Heritage, they love to come in and find things that maybe they didn’t grow up with or they can they can get now,” added Hendricks. Over in Woodford County, Jorge Antonio Villagrana Garcia opened a Mexican restaurant in 2019, honoring recipes passed down by his family. “It was a proposal that was made for my family because, traditionally our mothers, our grandmothers, dedicate themselves to food and, we bring it from Mexico, the gastronomy is a little different compared to other places,” added Villagrana Garcia. Villagrana Garcia is originally from the state of Jalisco in Mexico, well known for it’s food and tequila. He says the proposal to open the restaurant was too enticing to pass up. Now he shares a little bit of Jalisco through the family recipes. “They like us in this little town, here we have found a lot of support from the people. They treat us well and the people are very kind,” he says. One of the big celebrations during Hispanic Heritage month is the Festival Latino de Lexington. For over two decades, the festival Latino de Lexington has brought the community to the Robert Stephens Courthouse Plaza. It’s typically a two day festival, but because of the forecast, the city has canceled the festival this year. Categories: Featured, Local News, News Tags: Fayette County, Festival Latino de Lexington, hispanic, Hispanic Heritage Month, Latino, Lexington, woodford county