After a year off due to the COVID-19 pandemic, VIVA Osceola, the largest Hispanic festival in Central Florida, was back in style on October 9 at Kissimmee Lakefront Park. For almost three decades VIVA Osceola has celebrated Hispanic heritage, arts, and culture, as well as Osceola’s business community. The Kissimmee/Osceola Chamber has hosted this event for over 20 years and this year was one of the best yet.
The highlight of the festival was by far the entertainment. Before the event had even officially kicked off at noon, spectators were camped out to make sure they had an ideal spot for the day’s entertainment. Attendees caught lengthy sets from Orchestra Fuego, Edwin El Calvito Reyes, and the headliner, the “Original Canary of Salsa” Lalo Rodriguez. The concert was emceed by Epi Colon and Bebo from Exitos 96.5. Thanks to our partnership with AdventHealth, for the first time ever we were able to offer a livestream of the entire show, which is still available on the Kissimmee/Osceola Chamber website.
AdventHealth also sponsored an awesome free photo booth complete with props. Attendees were able to take home a souvenir photo strip with the VIVA logo and three different poses. Kissimmee Utility Authority was back this year too with their popular Kids’ Power Zone. Kids could have safe fun with inflatable bounce houses and slides and festival-goers of all ages cooled off with free snow cones.
As always, there were plenty of food and drink options at VIVA. From Puerto Rican favorites to an Oktoberfest-themed biergarten, there was plenty to sample. The festival even had its own drink this year, the VIVA Blue.” This rum, blue curacao, and sprite concoction was a glowing treat!
Christina was raised in St. Cloud and holds degrees from the University of South Florida and the University of Central Florida. She joined the Chamber in April 2015. As Director of Administration, she manages the Area Council’s events, sub-committee meetings, projects, and board engagements.
