Annual Community Celebration & Fundraiser
Vamos Impact Festival Fundraiser 2026
& Fair Trade Holiday Market
Saturday, November 21, 2026: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday, November 22, 2026: 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Luther Hall at Mount Calvary — 301 County Rd 19, Excelsior, MN 55331
• Family-Friendly • Community Activities • Silent Auction • Fair Trade Global Market • Live Folk Music • Community Resources
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Thanks to our Partners who made this event possible!
Moving Ideas into Action: A Celebration of Community, Culture & Impact
Every year, Vamos Impact gathers friends, families, civic leaders, and local entrepreneurs to celebrate our vibrant cultural heritage and unlock opportunities for the next generation. This two-day festival is an energetic gathering where culture meets community solidarity.
With our ambitious $100,000 community fundraising goal this year, 100% of event proceeds directly power:
- Workshops & Technical Assistance to Immigrants — Delivering free, practical bilingual business training, financial coaching, and mentorship to immigrant and minority-owned small businesses.
- The Vamos! Scholarship Fund — Awarding tuition scholarships and college transition support to hardworking Immigrant / Latino high school graduates across the Carver County.
- Fair Trade Artisan Empowerment — Providing direct global market access to traditional artisan families and cooperatives in Peru.
"When we empower a student or support an entrepreneur, we transform an entire family and uplift the whole community."
Two-Day Event Program
Festival & Holiday Market Schedule
Join us for two days of ethical artisan shopping, keynote presentations, and community activities.
🎉 Saturday, Nov 21: Festival & Fundraiser
- 10:00 AM- 5 PM Fair Trade Global Market & Community Resource Tables Open to Public. Café station opens. Fair Trade Market active. Interactive "Wall of Love" open. 🛍️☕
- 10:00 AM- 5 PM Silent auction opens! Bids welcome! 🛍️🍾🏒⚾⚽🎭🐴
- 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM Live Music 🎼🎶 performance by the Luke's Folk band, folk music singers from St. Luke Presbyterian Church in Minnetonka.
- 11:30 AM – 3:00 PM Lunch menu is ready! 🥪🥛🍎🍊🥐 Available for purchase.
- 1:40 PM – 2:00 PM Keynote & Welcome — Keynote & welcome remarks by Executive Director Juan Llerena. ✨
- 2:00 PM – 2:30 PM Community Panel Discussion 🎤🎤 — Welcoming Susana DeLeon, Associate Principal at Eastern Carver County Schools, and David Campana, Legislative and Policy Director in Economic Development at the Minnesota Council of Latino Affairs.
- 2:30 PM – 2:45 PM Student Spotlight — We welcome Rebecca Arredondo, a former Vamos! Scholarship recipient 🎓 sharing her inspirational and powerful testimony.
- 2:45 PM – 3:00 PM Wall of Love 🎨🖼️🖍️ — Join us this interactive family-friendly community celebration! Join for a community photo 📸.
- 3:45 PM – 4:00 PM Reflection by Mt. Calvary representative. Closing Remarks from our Executive Director Juan Llerena.
- 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Silent Auction Closeout (Last Call at 4:15 PM) / & Raffle Drawings — Raffle winners must be present to claim their prize or will lose it! Bid processing at Central Money Table, winner checkout, and transition to Sunday hours.
Distinguished Guest
Juan LLerena
Executive Director & Business Owner
Keynote and Host
Susana DeLeon
Associate Principal Eastern Carver Schools
Panelist
David Campana
Legislative and Policy Director in Economic Development MCLA
Panelist
Rebecca Arredondo
English Language Arts/Multilingual Educator
Testimonial
🛍️ Sunday, Nov 22: Fair Trade Holiday Market
- 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM Early Morning Market & Services — Fair Trade Market is open to service attendees and the general public. Live acoustic background music, video loop of artisan backstories, fresh coffee & packaged bakery treats.
Partner In Impact
Sponsors and Community Resources!
Thank you for considering an event Sponsorship or buying a Community Resource table to highlight your business or community project. All donations are tax-deductible as allowed per law. We accept checks or digital payments via Zeffy. Note: You can skip the voluntary donation to Zeffy by selecting ‘Other’ amount and entering zero.
Thanks to our Amigo Level Sponsors
Ethical Holiday Shopping
Fair Trade Global Holiday Market & Community Resources
Shop directly from global artisans. Every purchase promotes ethical wages, preserves indigenous weaving and craft traditions, and provides vital economic dignity to artisan families from around the world. Discover Community Resources, get connected and build a stronger community for good.
Gift Ideas from All Around the World
Unique gift ideas from all around the world, including handcrafted home decor, pure natural honey, outdoor and garden decor, artistic jewelry, clothing, and much more!
Fair Trade Coffee, Tea, Treats & Soups
Single-origin organic coffees, fine teas, delicious bakery treats, nourishing artisan soups, and more! Enjoy at our festival café or purchase as thoughtful holiday gifts.
Discover Community Resources
Visit the community resource booths and learn from community projects, opportunities for engagements, and from worthwhile causes to support in your community!
Make A Difference
Join Our Volunteer Team: Bring the Festival to Life
It takes a vibrant, passionate community to make this festival a reality. We are seeking volunteers for flexible hour shifts on Saturday, Nov 21.
High school and college community service hours certified!
Spread The Word
Press & Community Media Kit
Help us invite friends, churches, businesses, and neighbors! Copy ready-to-use social posts, download promotional flyers, and share with your networks.
📋 Copyable Social Media & Newsletter Blurb
Suggested Hashtags: #VamosImpact2026 #FairTradeMarket #InvestInLatinoTalent #TwinCitiesEvents #CommunitySolidarity
📥 Media Downloads & Collateral
Access official high-resolution logos, printable PDF 8.5x11 flyers for bulletin boards, and the official event press release.
Got Questions?
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about visiting, bidding, volunteering, and supporting the 2026 Vamos Impact Festival Fundraiser.
Yes! General admission is 100% free and open to everyone in the public on both Saturday, Nov 21 and Sunday, Nov 22. No ticket is required to enter, enjoy live performances, or browse the Fair Trade market.
The festival takes place in Luther Hall at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, located at 301 County Rd 19, Excelsior, MN 55331. Ample free parking is available directly on-site in the church parking lot with fully accessible entry.
Yes, absolutely! The event is designed for families of all ages. Highlights include an outdoor live llama interaction area, traditional Peruvian dance showcase with interactive workshops, the community Wall of Love note-writing station, and family photo areas.
Yes. Vamos Impact is an officially registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All charitable donations, silent auction contributions above fair market value, and sponsorships are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. We accept checks and digital payments through Zeffy. When checking out on Zeffy, you can skip the voluntary platform donation by selecting ‘Other’ and entering 0.
Our Café station (11:30 AM – 3 PM) will offer beverages and treats (coffee, hot cocoa bar, water, etc).
Lunch Menu (11:30 AM – 3:30 PM) will offer sandwiches and fruits 11:30 AM – 3:00 PM. Food tickets can be purchased on-site at the Central Money Table.
Yes! We proudly verify and sign off on community service hours for high school and college students who volunteer. Volunteers can easily sign up for 2-3 hour shifts via our official SignUpGenius link.
Yes! We warmly welcome businesses, artisans, and organizations to donate gift certificates, unique experiences, or gift baskets to our Silent Auction. Please reach out through our contact page at https://vamosimpact.org/contact or email Executive Director Juan Llerena at info@vamosimpact.org.
Attendees can connect directly with local non-profits, service providers, and civic leaders. It is an interactive space to learn about community projects, discover volunteer opportunities, and find worthwhile local causes to support.
Community organizations and non-profits can reserve a booth space for $500. The reservation covers Saturday, November 21, 2026, and includes 1 venue-provided table and 2 chairs. Participating organizations are asked to bring their own branded tablecloth, informational materials or flyers to share, and a standing banner to place by their booth. To purchase a resource table visit https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/2026-fundraising-event-sponsorships-only
The resource tables are open exclusively during Day 1 of the event on Saturday, November 21, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM inside Luther Hall at Mount Calvary in Excelsior, MN. Admission to the festival and resource tables is 100% free for all attendees.
We Can't Wait to Celebrate With You!
📍 Luther Hall • 301 County Rd 19, Excelsior, MN 55331 • Questions? Email info@vamosimpact.org