News Taffy

The Hispanic Community Services, Inc. (HCSI) will host the Hot Pepper Festival on Saturday, August 9, 2014 from 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. in Downtown Jonesboro. The Hot Pepper Festival is the most anticipated festivity of its kind in Jonesboro. Over 1,000 people attended the 2013 Hispanic Celebration in May, and the Center is expecting a larger crowd for this year’s event.

“We want to share our culture and traditions in a day full of enjoyment and fun”, said Gina Gomez, Executive Director of Hispanic Community Services. “This is the day when communities from all over Craighead County come together to celebrate our heritage.”

The festival, free and open to the public, promotes and celebrates the Hispanic culture while fostering cross-cultural relationships throughout the region. This year’s event will include food, music, arts and crafts, and many children’s activities.

The Honorable Harold Perrin, Mayor of Jonesboro, will welcome participants to the festival at 3:30 p.m. HCSI will also host Hot Pepper Nights 5K/10K beginning at 6:00 p.m. The race, partnering with the Downtown Jonesboro Association, will welcome over 400 participants.

This event will promote health & fitness in Northeast Arkansas while bringing families together as participants of all ages are encouraged to enter. The race is open to runners and walkers. There will be cash awards for top male/female finishers and awards for top race group finishers. All participants will receive a custom race t-shirt and enjoy the after race activities downtown.

HCSI will also host The Mexican Mobile Consulate from Little Rock this year. The Mexican Mobile Consulate, in partnership with HCSI, will offer an onsite day of services to assist with documentation and paperwork. In the past participants have traveled from a 5-state region to receive assistance for the day. The Mexican Mobile Consulate will be set up from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the Southwest Church of Christ at 1605 James St. in Jonesboro.

Proceeds from the festival will support the activities of the HCSI and contribute to annual scholarships for deserving students attending Arkansas State University.

For more information about the event or HCSI, please contact Gina Gomez at (870) 926‐1118, go to www.facebook.com/JHCSI, or visit the official website at http://jhcsi.org.