PORT WENTWORTH, Ga. () — Port Wentworth is preparing for a major cultural event this weekend. The City’s annual Hispanic celebration comes at a time when many communities are scaling back due to immigration concerns and public safety challenges. Instead of canceling, the event is expanding with more security.

Later today, the Port Wentworth Police will conduct a full sweep around the City Hall area as part of the City’s plan to keep Friday’s celebration safe. It’s all for the La Fiesta Hispanic celebration, which officials say is growing just as quickly as the Hispanic population here in Port Wentworth.

The event includes more than 15 vendors, Latin American cuisine, live entertainment, and a kids’ zone. New this year: a fundraising effort for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, with Port Wentworth’s police and fire departments competing to sell the most shirts – ending with a pie-in-the-face challenge for charity.

“This year, we have a whole team to plan. Last year was a small event. The City Manager approached me to create a Hispanic event. Now this year we’re going to have our biggest event with more music and more food vendors. Last year we just had just four parties here, but for this year we have more than 15 vendors,” shared Port Wentworth Financial Specialist Supervisor, Rosemary Ghigliotti.

Security will be stepped up this evening, including K-9 sweeps and added police patrols – measures city officials say are designed to ensure a safe environment. Organizers have spent nearly eight months preparing for this year’s festival.

“I think as others are canceling, and everyone has their own reasons. I think for us, it’s we want to show the resilience of the community. I think you want to have people out. You cannot let in times like this; things scare you and you should stand up. I think showing that we have a great community here, people who actually invest and who are living here and working here. So, why not celebrate that?” Said James Touchton, the Director of Economic Development and Executive Director of the Development Authority for Port Wentworth.

If you plan on attending tonight, the Latin Festival in Port Wentworth kicks off at 5:30 p.m. and wraps up at 9:30 p.m. It’s free and open to the public at Port Wentworth’s City Hall.

Despite other communities like Savannah canceling their Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations this year, city leaders in Port Wentworth say now is more important than ever to continue this new tradition.