Las Jefas Market in downtown Otay Ranch

SAN DIEGO – An afternoon of live music, food, cultural performances and shopping awaits Otay Ranch Town Center this weekend to kick off Hispanic Heritage Month.

The open-air shopping center at 2015 Birch Rd. will be open from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 9th. in Chula Vista is celebrating the occasion with family-friendly fun and a brand new marketplace.

The Las Jefas marketa pop-up market that has gained popularity throughout San Diego County over the past two years will feature more than 40 different artisans, food vendors and creatives.

Businesswoman Rocky Bello, co-founder of Las Jefas Market, said she and her business partner had difficulty penetrating certain markets in the area, so they decided to start their own.

Now, two years after her idea came to fruition, Bellos says, “Here we support other Latin American entrepreneurs and just give back.”

On Saturday, visitors to the Otay Ranch Town Center can spend the afternoon browsing various booths with information about local Hispanic cultural and civic organizations.

There will also be a wide selection of food from select vendors, as well as live art demonstrations and photo opportunities with authentic Catrinas musical performances.

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, market visitors can take fun photos in a themed photo booth and children can have fun making crafts. Further information about the event can be found here.

The English translation of Las Jefas is “Lady Boss,” which is now the name of a marketplace that these “Boss Ladies” are proud of.