The Grand Ballroom of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union will be full of Latin American food and dancing on Sunday, all in celebration of Latin American Heritage Month.

“The goal of the banquet is to bring together our community to celebrate Latin American culture and increase cultural awareness,” said Juanita Cross, the Latino Heritage Month Committee chair.

The Latino Heritage Month Banquet is a part of the celebration for Latino Heritage Month, which started in 1995.

This year’s banquet will be at 6 p.m. Sunday in the Grand Ballroom.

“(The banquet) is the highlight of the month’s events,” Cross said. “It is always a fun time.”

A variety of Latin American foods will be served. The list includes: pollo picante (spicy chicken), cheese quesadillas, black beans, frijoles Cubanos (Cuban style beans), green poblano rice, buñuelos (cinnamon crisps) and fruit salad.

“Students like to dress up for the banquet like any other night out,” Cross said.

About 250 people are expected to attend the banquet.

Hector Silveira y su Orquestra, a Chicago-based Cuban orchestra, will be performing during the banquet.

“We are pleased to bring Hector Silveira y su Orquestra to campus to entertain us with salsa music,” Cross said.

There will also be a DJ and dancing after the orchestra.

“Those attending the banquet are encouraged to stay and join us in some dancing,” Cross said.

Cross said the banquet is better every year because attendees are asked to fill out surveys at the end of the night. The surveys are used to give the committee feedback on what went well and what they could do better.

Members of the Latin American Student Organization (LASO) are expected to be in attendance.

“LASO normally has one or two members attend committee meetings during the planning,” Cross said.

“This group will also have some members come and volunteer to help during the banquet as well.”

Sarah Jean Bresnahan can be reached at 581-7942 or at sjbresnahan@eiu.edu.