Miramar vice mayor spearheads Hispanic Heritage Month events drawing thousands
Miramar Vice Mayor Yvette Colbourne is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month by sharing her roots and helping expand Hispanic celebrations in the city.
Colbourne recently appeared on NBC6 to talk about her Panamanian and Jamaican heritage , not long after she hosted Miramar’s 13th annual Latin Music Festival.
The Sept. 20 festival surpassed last year’s crowd of 10,000, the city said.
The month’s celebrations began Sept. 16 with a kickoff event at the City Hall Botanical Gardens, featuring speakers, food and a proclamation. From Sept. 15 to Oct. 30, the Miramar Cultural Center is displaying the Rezones De La Herencia art exhibit in the Ansin Family Art Gallery.
The Latin Music Festival was the highlight of the city’s celebrations. The free event was held at the Miramar Regional Park Amphitheater, headlined by “Queen of Merengue” Milly Quezada.
“Miramar’s Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations have grown tremendously over the past decade,” Colbourne told the Miramar News. “Ten years ago, our events were smaller community gatherings. Today, we’re proud to welcome crowds of over 10,000 residents and visitors from across South Florida to our free, city-sponsored celebrations.”
According to a news release from the city, over 40% of Miramar’s population identifies as Hispanic or Latino.
“This growth shows how far we’ve come as a vibrant, inclusive city that embraces diversity and celebrates unity,” Colbourne said.
Over 30% of Miramar residents claim Jamaican heritage, including the vice mayor. However, many claim multiple cultures — Colbourne’s Panamanian heritage is just as important to her, which is why she started the Latin Music Festival and continues to host events that highlight Hispanic heritage.
Following the early celebrations, Colbourne told NBC6, “It didn’t have the flavors and it didn’t represent like it needed to, so I immediately got to work.”
The first celebration started as a small gathering in front of the civic center, not a party with thousands of people. Recent celebrations have been helped by the construction of the amphitheater, which, since its opening eight years ago, has attracted high-profile artists from the Caribbean and Latin America.
“Along with cultural exhibits including food preparation and sampling at the kickoff events, language classes and cultural presentations, these festivities reflect our deep respect for the Hispanic community’s contributions,” Colbourne told the Miramar News.
This story was originally published October 8, 2025 at 12:01 PM.
