Visit us at our headquarters in the East Side of Saint Paul, or at our offices in Minneapolis, Willmar, and Austin.
Office hours. Monday - Friday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm. Saturday-Sunday: Closed - Click here for holiday closure dates
Visit us at our headquarters in the East Side of Saint Paul, or at our offices in Minneapolis, Willmar, and Austin.
Office hours. Monday - Friday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm. Saturday-Sunday: Closed - Click here for holiday closure dates
On September 13, more than 4,500 people gathered to celebrate Latino heritage, cultural traditions, food, music, and art at the CLUES Fiesta Latina festival. The event was presented by CLUES, General Mills, and Sunrise Banks with support from a variety of partners, more than 150 vendors, and 90 volunteers who contributed to making the event a resounding success. Thanks to Metro Transit, attendees were able to arrive at the event by riding for free using public transportation.
Ruby Azurdia-Lee, CLUES president and CEO, opened the event by emphasizing the importance of honoring the diversity and richness of Latino culture in Minnesota. During the event, people enjoyed the live performances of Baila Venezuela, Ritmos del Perú y más MN, Ritmo Latino, Cathy Mollinet, Mariachi Jalisco, Colombia Live, Los Alegres Bailadores, Twin Cities Latin Band, and Kapulli KetzalCoatlicue (Danza Ketzal). Each performance was greeted with applause, and many attendees joined in the dances. This year, a large group of children gathered on stage to take part in an engaging storytelling experience presented by Arlorosa Films. On stage, we were honored to welcome the Consuls from El Salvador, Sandra Cruz, and Mexico, Alejandra Bologna, who joined us in celebrating this special day.
Currently on view at the CLUES Latino Art Gallery, Raíces: Our Legacy is a powerful exhibition celebrating the voices of Minnesota’s Latine community. Inaugurated during Fiesta Latina, the show runs from September 13 through December 31 and features a diverse group of artists who fuse ancestral traditions with contemporary expression through painting, sculpture, and mixed media. The vibrant works from Raíces: Our Legacy also provided a rich cultural backdrop during Fiesta Latina, highlighting the creativity, diversity, and resilience of the Latine community throughout the event. 
CLUES programs played an important role in the event. Our staff shared information about our services through fun, family-friendly activities highlighting our key areas: Arts and Cultural Engagement, Behavioral Health, Community Health and Wellness, Economic Prosperity, Career Development and Employment, Early Childhood Initiatives, Youth and Adult Education, and Small Business Development. The Career Development and Employment team hosted a job fair with more than nine organizations offering employment opportunities to our community. Meanwhile, the Small Business program featured 12 graduating entrepreneurs who delighted attendees with their products and food, showcasing the creativity and dedication of our local business owners.
This year’s event featured a wonderful variety of Latino food vendors serving savory bites of their culture for all to enjoy. Guests enjoyed dishes from Q’bo Latin food, Frida’s Little Mexico, La Estación, Our Daily Bakery, Mi Sazon Mexican Food, El Pariente Food Truck, Ari’s Sweets, El Sabor de mi Tierra, El Burrito Mercado, Cafeto Shop, Obleas de la Abuela Napa, Salsa Azteca, Clandestino’s Venezuelan Food, Hello Boba, Yummy Snowcones, and Paula Sabores Argentinos. Some vendors had sales as high as two thousand dollars! ¡Incredible!
In addition to our food vendors, several small businesses and organizations joined to share valuable resources with the community: 529 College Savings Plans helped families open bank accounts for students, and taught the importance of financial literacy. Financial institutions such as Blaze Credit Union and Thrivent, Sunrise Bank, Huntington Bank, and Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union, promoted opportunities for financial wellness.
Health and wellness resources were also a key part of the festival. Organizations including St Paul Ramsey County Public Health, Community Economic Empowerment Network, Riverland Community Health and Epilepsy Foundation provided education on their services and opportunities to help improve quality of life.
A standout moment came from Los Bomberos Latino Outreach Society, which led an engaging bilingual fire safety demonstration in a mock kitchen setup. Families learned how to prevent kitchen fires, use a fire extinguisher, and respond to emergencies, all in a fun and interactive way.
Everywhere you walked throughout the event, it was filled with color and creativity! A large number of local artisans and small business owners showcased vibrant, handmade accessories, clothing, and other beautiful jewelry, adding to the joyful atmosphere. Thank you to all the talented creators who shared their artistic talents and craftwork with our community.
A heartfelt gracias-thanks to everyone who attended, volunteered, or sponsored CLUES Fiesta Latina 2025. Your support made this event possible, and we couldn’t have done it without you. We look forward to celebrating with you again next year!
CLUES is a nonprofit public charity recognized as tax exempt by the IRS under section 501(c)(3). CLUES tax ID: 41-1386986. Our Donor Privacy Policy can be found here.
