On Saturday, October 17, 2026, the Mohawk Valley Latino Association will hold its 22nd Annual Gala at the Beeches Manor, 7900 Turin Rd., Rome 5-11 PM. This event is held each year to celebrate Hispanic Heritage, and to honor local community and small business members.
This event is truly special for the Association because it serves as a formal occasion for members of the Latino community to learn from each other, while we welcome other members of the community who are not Latinos, to attend because it is a great learning experience, and networking opportunity for everyone.
This year’s celebration will honor several local Latino small businesses: Blessings’ Daycare (Utica), Copper City Cigars (Rome), Dominican Barbershop (Utica) and Exclusive Auto Reconditioning (Utica). Other honorees will receive the MVLA Presidential award are, Community Foundation HOC and MVHS Wynn Hospital, for always supporting the MVLA programs and community over the past five years.
MVLA is honor to welcome the event guest speaker is NYS Comptroller, Thomas DiNapoli. Comptroller DiNapoli will be addressing the attendees to acknowledge the contributions of the Latino community in the Mohawk Valley.
This year’s celebration will culminate the 2026 Annual Hispanic Heritage month events for MVLA. The live entertainment will be performed by La Krema from Buffalo. The event ticket price is as follows: $100 per person which includes dinner and live entertainment, a Cocktail, 5 PM (Cigar Hour), guest will receive a free drink and cigar or can choose to attend at $75 the Gala which starts at 6 pm.
Sponsors of this year’s event include: Arrow Bank (Premier), Bank of Utica, SOMOS NY, First Source Credit Union, El Zorro Latino Radio, 98.3 FM (Media), CNY Latino newspaper (Media), (Entertainment), Mohawk Valley Health Systems, Excellus BCBS, Arthritis Specialists, Nascentia Health and Copper City Cigars.
The Mohawk Valley Latino Association was established to improve the standards of living for Latino residents of the Mohawk Valley through various services that will educate and empower them; to achieve awareness amongst the different cultures of the Mohawk Valley of the historical and contemporary impact of the Latino Community and to help shape the minds of our youth and demonstrate to them the great opportunities available within the Mohawk Valley and our Nation. For more information or email us at mvla@mvlautica.org, calls can be made to 315-864-8419 through Monday, October 9th by 5 PM.
