Council approves one‑day Southlake Hispanic Heritage Celebration in Town Square for Sept. 27; alternate date Oct. 4

The Southlake City Council on June 17 approved a specific-use permit for a one-day Hispanic Heritage Celebration in Southlake Town Square, to be held Sept. 27, 2025, with Oct. 4 listed as an alternate bad-weather date.

Vidi (Vidi) Barker, representing the Southlake Hispanic and Latino organization, told council the nonprofit had secured Kite Realty’s permission to barricade certain alleyways and place portable restrooms on that property and had arranged for post-event power washing. Barker said the organization drew its 3,000–5,000 attendance estimate from prior events such as Somos and similar local festivals; she described outreach to sponsors and other communities and said the group hopes the celebration becomes an annual event.

Director Killough outlined the proposed footprint in Town Square and explained staff had received no responses from notified neighbors. The applicant’s proposed layout would close portions of Main Street and alleyways to create vendor areas, a kid zone and performance space. Staff and council discussed footprint size and attendance planning; Economic Development Director Daniel Cortez advised that event planning typically “plans the space first” to accommodate vendors and then adjusts expectations for actual attendance. Cortez also noted the city’s recent comparable events drew approximately 1,000–2,000 attendees in recent years but acknowledged first-year estimates can be higher or lower.

Councilmembers emphasized this is a one‑year approval for a first-year event so the city can assess impacts before considering a recurring permit. The motion specified that the event must meet all requirements of the city’s special-event permit process (Resolution No. 20317). The motion to approve carried 7–0.