COLUMBUS, Ohio — ¡Festival Latino! is returning to the Columbus riverfront this weekend for its 28th year. The free, family-friendly event is featuring 24 new, local Hispanic-owned businesses.

The new entrepreneurs are graduates of Mercadito Raíces, a six-month program run by Catholic Social Services designed to help small business owners succeed. Several of this year's graduates, along with graduates from past years, will participate in the festival.

"It is very rewarding to see some of them creating jobs, also being able to be self-sufficient, being able to live in the community, be productive," said Clara Brown, program manager for Catholic Social Services who helps run the Mercadito Raíces program.

Credit: WBNS-10TV

This year’s cohort from Mercadito Raíces are:

El Auténtico Sabo

See Full Page