source: philadelphia

Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts hosted the eighth annual Latin American Book Fair on Saturday, September 12, drawing attendees from across the tristate area for a full day of author presentations, cultural performances, children’s activities, and food.

Reporting from WHYY and philadelphia.today together document an event that has grown well beyond its modest origins.

The fair ran from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., featured more than 30 authors and organizations, and presented books in English, Spanish, and bilingual editions.

From City Hall to the Kimmel Center

The fair began in 2019 as a grassroots event at Philadelphia City Hall, started by Ana Omana, Leity Rodríguez-Largo, and Edgar Ramírez. The founding budget was $300, and the organizers had neither a venue nor sponsors.

After years at Taller Puertorriqueño, the fair moved to the Kimmel Center in 2025 and returned there this year for its second consecutive edition.

Omana, a children’s book author and the fair’s creative director, told WHYY that the goal remains giving Latino children the message that their heritage is an asset.

She connected that mission to the current national climate around immigration enforcement and anti-immigrant rhetoric, saying the fair exists to remind the broader public that Latino communities read, write, and have stories to tell.

This Year’s Focus: Colombia

The 2026 edition spotlighted Colombian culture and traditions. Andrea Garcia, vice president of communications at the Kimmel Center, hosted a conversation with Sara Aldana, the Philadelphia Orchestra’s newly appointed assistant conductor, who was born in Colombia.

Garcia, whose mother is Colombian, told WHYY the partnership reflects the Kimmel Center’s founding purpose as a gathering place for community and cultural expression. The building opened 25 years ago as a home for the Philadelphia Orchestra and as a public civic space.

Authors Confirmed to Appear

Philadelphia.today confirmed several participating authors ahead of the event. Colombian writer Érika Ángel Tamayo presented her book El ruido que hacen los latidos.

Ingrid González, a Bogotá-born professor and author now based in Philadelphia, brought her 2025 poetry collection Un punto negro sobre un cielo de verano, published by Valparaíso Ediciones in Spain and Colombia.

Adela Gisele Caicedo, originally from Cali and now Philadelphia-based, presented her debut bilingual guided workbook, The Boundary Between Healing and Hiding / El límite entre Sanar y Esconderse.

From Puerto Rico, educator Mariana Martindale brought the bilingual children’s book The Colors of My Voice / Los Colores de Mi Voz. Philadelphia-born author Jen Torres also attended.

Children’s Programming and Literacy Focus

Families found dedicated programming throughout the day. Children’s activities included face painting, read-alouds, and interactive workshops intended to connect young readers with books that reflect their own languages and family traditions.

The broader stage program featured musicians and dancers alongside author panels.

The fair has grown into a full citywide celebration of Latino literature and culture. It is free to attend.