Whiting Empanada Fest: Food, family, and Hispanic heritage at the lakefront

The smell of sizzling empanadas drifted across the lakefront in Whiting as thousands gathered for the city’s fourth annual Empanada Fest, a celebration of Hispanic culture and community that has quickly become one of the city’s signature events.

What began as a small idea from longtime Whiting resident Rebecca Michko has grown into a nonprofit-led festival that draws an estimated 10,000 visitors each year. For Michko, who helped establish the Whiting Hispanic Heritage Organization to oversee the event, the festival is more than just a day of food and music; it’s a way to give back.

“We started an organization in order to have this fest, this nonprofit, with no money,” Michko said. “We’ve been able to give out over $20,000 in scholarships last year and another $36,936 this year. We try to give back as much as we can to our Hispanic community.”

Empanada Fest began as a simple plan to highlight culture through food. As the city is already well known for Pierogi Fest, Michko and her team leaned into the empanada as a cultural staple that represents both tradition and creativity. The result is a day filled with vendors, music, dancing, and community pride.

“Everybody wanted to try empanadas, because they’re not easy to make and they’re not easy to come by,” Michko said. “This year, we had 17 vendors selling empanadas. The first year, they ran out within hours because nobody expected that many people.”

The location plays no small role in the festival’s success. Whiting Parks Superintendent Adi Cruz, who helped shape the event layout from the beginning, believes the lakefront is the perfect setting.

“I love that it’s at Lakefront Park because it’s a beautiful venue,” Cruz said. “It’s very family friendly. People can spread out; we have a kid area, a food area, and a beer garden. Families don’t have to worry about anything else—they can just enjoy one great day celebrating our culture.”

The setting also helps showcase Whiting to those outside of the city. 

“We want people to see that Whiting is representing Hispanic culture, and that this is a welcoming community,” Cruz said.

Planning for the festival is a year-round effort. Michko said the core group of volunteers begins booking entertainment as early as January to align with Hispanic Heritage Month and Mexican Independence Day celebrations. Meetings take place weekly leading up to the event.

“All these fests are done on volunteers,” Michko said. “That’s a huge difference here. We’re all helping each other out.”

It takes about 100 volunteers to make the event possible, along with sponsorships and strong community support. From the Whiting Parks Department to local schools and businesses, contributions come in the form of buses, golf carts, safety measures, and, of course, the food vendors that make the festival unique.

“Our members are what make this possible,” Cruz said. “There are only eight of us in the organization, but with all the volunteers and the community pitching in, it turns into something big. We don’t need the gratitude. We just want people to see it and say, ‘I want to be a part of that.’”

While the festival is the centerpiece of the year, the Whiting Hispanic Heritage Organization also hosts smaller events, including a Day of the Dead fundraiser that raises money for scholarships and community projects.

For Michko, it all comes back to honoring the sacrifices of her parents, who immigrated to Whiting more than 70 years ago, and ensuring future generations feel connected to their heritage.

“It’s just nice to show that this is a welcoming community,” Michko said. “I’m glad we get to celebrate, and I’m glad the next generation gets to see it, too.”

As the empanadas continue to sizzle and the music fills the lakefront, Whiting’s Empanada Fest stands as a reminder of the power of food, tradition, and community to bring people together.

To see what else is happening in the City of Whiting, visit their website: whitingindiana.com.