Americká Street in Vinohrady Turns Into a Latin American Market

On Saturday, September 12, Americká Street in Prague's Vinohrady district (Prague 2) transformed for a day into a lively fairground as part of the citywide "Zažít město jinak" ("Experience the City Differently") initiative. The programme and refreshments leaned heavily into Latin American — and in places even Mexican — themes, prompting locals to jokingly rename the street "Latinoamerická" for the day.

Visitors were treated to music, dancing, workshops, street vendors, and, of course, a wide array of food — sweet and savoury, spicy and refreshing, catering to meat lovers as well as those who prefer light, plant-based snacks. The food stalls represented not only Central and South American cuisines but dishes from around the world.

A Street Party with an Afterparty

Like other street celebrations in the "Zažít město jinak" series, the event on Americká Street was conceived primarily as a neighbourhood gathering — though, as tradition has it, it also drew tourists from the nearby Náměstí Míru. Among the local residents are quite a few expats, including Omri Goz, the event's main organiser, who ended up settling in Prague almost by accident: while travelling around Europe in 1999, he found himself "stuck" in the Czech capital. Over the years, he has launched several urban projects — including the cultural space Burza #4 and the design market Mint Market — and under his leadership, the celebration on Americká Street grew noticeably larger than similar events held in other districts.

According to the organiser, the main goal is to breathe new life into neighbourly and community relations, creating a space for people and cultures to connect. Besides food and cocktails, guests enjoyed concerts on four stages, dance performances, workshops for children and adults, goods from local designers, and information stands from neighbourhood non-profit organisations. With good weather on its side, the event ran all day into the evening, followed by an official afterparty at the nearby Klub Varšava on Varšavská Street starting at 9 p.m. — this time with limited capacity and paid admission.

Eighty Locations Across Prague

"Zažít město jinak" events take place across the Czech Republic, but it is in Prague that the tradition runs deepest and enjoys the greatest popularity. This past Saturday, besides Americká Street in Prague 2, similar events were held in Prague 4 (on Adamovská and Nová cesta streets), Prague 9 (Skloněná), Prague 10 (Dražní promenáda), and in Řeporyje, at the Buchta art studio and community centre.

The initiative is coordinated by the association AutoMat, which began organising these kinds of street festivals — held on roads temporarily closed to cars and open only to pedestrians and cyclists — twenty years ago, in 2006. The aim is to bring neighbours closer together and restore public life to shared spaces, with local organisers deciding the specific content of each event. According to the organisers, last year similar street festivals — pushing out cars and filling streets with community life — took place at eighty locations across Prague.

Read also: 9 Best Cycling Routes Around Prague: From the Vltava Embankments to Karlštejn Castle

Source: prazsky.denik.cz