The Tierra Mixteca dance group from Oaxaca, Mexico performs the Danza de los Diablos at the Urban Art Fest held at Riverfront Park on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
Organizers of this year’s Urban Art Fest had a clear message: We’re not going anywhere.
The free celebration brought graffiti art, low-riders, Mexican culture and support for immigrants to Riverfront Park. It’s put on by Latinos Unidos Siempre, a youth-led Salem-based nonprofit organization and activist group.
Amid escalating immigration enforcement and deportations, the 2025 event was themed “Aquí estamos, y no nos vamos!”, which in English translates to “We are here to stay!”
Low riders on display at the Urban Art Fest held at Riverfront Park on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)Darius Northern sits in his booth behind a library he provides for customers to browse while shopping at the Urban Art Fest held at Riverfront Park on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025 (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)Chris Caserez and son Julian with his work “Trips” created that day at the Urban Art Fest held at Riverfront Park on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (LAURA TESLER/for Salem Reporter)The band for the Tierra Mixteca dance group enters the stage at the Urban Art Fest held at Riverfront Park on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)A performer from the Tierra Mixteca dance group at the Urban Art Fest held at Riverfront Park on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)The Tierra Mixteca dance group from Oaxaca, Mexico performs the Danza de los Diablos at the Urban Art Fest held at Riverfront Park on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)The Tierra Mixteca dance group from Oaxaca, Mexico performs the Danza de los Diablos at the Urban Art Fest held at Riverfront Park on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)An artist at work on a mural at Urban Art Fest held at Riverfront Park on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)Eddie Caine with his work “Amor” after his daughter, created that day at the Urban Art Fest held at Riverfront Park on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (LAURA TESLER/for Salem Reporter)The crowd enjoys a performance on stage at Urban Art Fest held at Riverfront Park on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (LAURA TESLER/for Salem Reporter)Byron Cervantes, a member of the Tierra Mixteca dance group, poses with his handmade wooden mask at the Urban Art Fest held at Riverfront Park on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (LAURA TESLER/for Salem Reporter)Volunteers watch a performance at the Urban Art Fest held at Riverfront Park on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)Jessica Paniagua shows one of her illustrations in her booth at the Urban Art Fest held at Riverfront Park on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)Dylan Mendoza and Reybel Mendoza lean up against “El Chile” a 1982 Lincoln Continental low rider they restored. The car was on display at Urban Art Fest held at Riverfront Park on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)Eliseo Sandoval sits on his bike that took him a year to make at the Urban Art Fest held at Riverfront Park on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)A low rider on display at the Urban Art Fest held at Riverfront Park on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)A low rider on display at the Urban Art Fest held at Riverfront Park on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)Autumn Breitweiser looks over Jesus Arellano Leon’s drawings at his booth at the Urban Art Fest held at Riverfront Park on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (LAURA TESLER/for Salem Reporter)Nixin paints a work for sale in his booth at the Urban Art Fest held at Riverfront Park on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)One the many pop-up art displays for attendees to view at Urban Art Fest held at Riverfront Park on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025 (LAURA TESLER/for Salem Reporter)A sample of wares for sale at Urban Art Fest held at Riverfront Park on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
STORY TIP OR IDEA? Send an email to Salem Reporter’s news team: [email protected].
A MOMENT MORE, PLEASE– If you found this story useful, consider subscribing to Salem Reporter if you don’t already. Work such as this, done by local professionals, depends on community support from subscribers. Please take a moment and sign up now – easy and secure: SUBSCRIBE.
Laura Tesler has lived in Salem, Oregon for 20 years and is originally from Flint, MI. Laura has been an underwater photographer for 15 years, and is an avid scuba diver. Topside, she has been taking photographs since age 12, and currently works on assignment for the Salem Reporter, and full time purchasing land for fish and wildlife habitat in the Willamette Valley. Laura attended Oregon State University, and has traveled extensively all over the world and the United States.
