Event celebrating Hispanic music coming to Heritage Park in Streator

Streator resident Toni Pettit said there is a growing Hispanic population in the community, and few, if any, festivals featuring a Hispanic band.

She wants to change that and bring the community together.

She is organizing Sombreros and Stetsons event 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 22, at Heritage Park, at the corner of Main and Monroe streets. The event will feature a DJ playing Tejano, Ranchera, country, and other musical styles, a food truck from Mr. J’s and possibly a piñata.

“We want this to be a family event,” Pettit told the Streator City Council on Tuesday.

The City Council approved the gathering at Heritage Park, but Councilwoman Tara Bedei raised concerns about having events at Heritage Park without the organizer having insurance for it. She said liability insurance is required of any group organizing an event at Plumb Pavilion in City Park.

City Manager David Plyman said since this is a first-time event, and it is hard to gauge what turnout will be, he is OK with allowing it to proceed without the additional insurance. The city has its own liability insurance.

Pettit, who co-founded the Jammin at the Clock in Heritage Park with Cinda Bond, said she’s always wanted to recruit a band that performs Hispanic music for Jammin at the Clock, but she has not been able to find one in the group’s price range. She said she’d love to book a band for the Sombreros and Stetsons event, and make it an annual gathering.