Montana State University invites the community to commemorate the independence days of Argentina, Colombia, Peru and Venezuela at the inaugural Independence Fiesta. The free and public event will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on July 6 in MSU’s Strand Union Building, Ballroom A. 

The celebration, hosted by the student organizations First-Generation Students Association and Fuerza Latinx will include traditional food and dances from the South American countries, as well as live music. Food and refreshments representing each country will be provided. 

Each country’s independence day is a significant date to celebrate its traditions and customs, said Flor Vega-Castillo, a member of the Independence Fiesta committee and president of the First-Generation Students Association, a co-sponsor of the event.  

“We are excited to share our traditional food, dances from these South American countries and a live-music performance by MSU graduate students and faculty. The event will convene the most representative finger foods from each country and the catchiest Latin American rhythms," said Vega-Castillo, who is a graduate student from Peru. 

Between the entertainment acts, students, faculty and staff will share facts about the independence of each country, its culture and its contributions by the Latin American community. Latinx DJ Inkieto will play songs from Argentina, Colombia, Peru and Venezuela. 

“This is the first time a celebration like this will occur over the summer, and at MSU the committee is highly excited about setting this initiative and establishing a new tradition,” said Adriana Reyes de Merkle, planning committee member and a bilingual social worker in Bozeman. 

This event is sponsored by the MSU Office of the President, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Diversity and Inclusion Student Commons, Office of International Programs, Graduate School, and College of Education, Health and Human Development. Local nonprofit organizations Proyecto Salud, Thrive, MIJA and the BELLA program from World Language Initiative are also partners.