Thursday, October 1, 2026
A cherished tradition will return to the village on Oct. 17, when the Valley Stream Latino Society hosts Noche de Domino, an event that has become a meaningful part of the community’s Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations.
The gathering will take place from 8 to 10 p.m. at VFW Post 1790, on Merrick Road, presented in partnership with Latina Moms Connect, the Puerto Rican Coalition for a Better Community, the VFW post and Green Acres Mall.
What began as a simple idea among neighbors a few years ago has grown into a much-anticipated annual celebration. Inspired by a casual conversation online, when someone asked, “Who wants to play dominoes?” the first event, in 2022, drew an enthusiastic response from the community. Since then, Noche de Domino has become a regular highlight of the season, bringing together people of all ages and backgrounds around a game that carries deep cultural meaning for many Latino families.
For Maribel Padin-Canestro, a Valley Stream resident since 2004 and one of the founders of the Valley Stream Latino Society, the event represents more than a game night. She and other community members formed the organization in 2019 to strengthen cultural visibility and connection among Latino residents. Although Valley Stream is home to a large Latino population, she saw that cultural traditions were not always reflected in wider community life.
“I felt strongly that something meaningful needed to happen — not just to celebrate our culture, but to build bridges, create a support network and empower Latino voices,” Padin-Canestro said. “That’s when I decided to bring together like-minded Latina community members, Milagros Vicente, Kelly Urena and Glorisbel Roman, to form what is now the Valley Stream Latino Society. Our goal is to foster unity, promote cultural pride, and ensure that Latino residents feel seen, heard and valued in all areas of community life.”
For many in the community, dominoes evoke warm memories of family gatherings, neighborhood parties and long summer nights spent around the table. Padin-Canestro remembers her father, uncles and neighbors playing for hours, sharing jokes and stories between turns. That sense of togetherness is what the Latino organization aims to capture and preserve. Noche de Domino is open to everyone, whether they grew up with the game or are learning it for the first time.
“While dominoes are played across many Latin American countries, each culture brings its own style, rules, energy and meaning to the game,” Roman said. “We have folks from the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Panama and other countries all play, and sometimes you can hear them discussing how they each play in their own countries, further sharing their individual national culture.
“This night brings all those variations together, showing how one tradition can unite us while also celebrating the unique ways each culture expresses it,” Roman added. “The conversations that are had during these events further demonstrate the rich and beautiful tapestry that is the Latino culture.”
Organizers emphasize that the event is not only for Latino residents. One of the society’s main goals is to build bridges among communities, using cultural traditions to bring people together. They view Domino Night as a way to create a relaxed, inclusive space where neighbors can meet, talk and share in a tradition that is both personal and communal.
The event is part of the broader observance of Hispanic Heritage Month, which is recognized nationally from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. The month honors the histories, cultures and contributions of Americans whose ancestry traces back to Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
In Valley Stream, where the Latino population has grown significantly over the past two decades, organizers view the month as an important opportunity to celebrate identity and community.
“Despite our numbers, many Latino children, and even some adults, aren’t deeply connected to their cultural roots,” Padin-Canestro said. “That’s why celebrations like this are so important. They offer an opportunity to reconnect with our heritage, to learn about the richness and diversity of Latino culture, and to feel pride in where we come from.
“If the Valley Stream Latino Society can play even a small role in fostering that sense of pride and tradition in our youth and our community,” she continued, “then we’ve done something truly meaningful.”
Looking ahead, the society envisions Noche de Domino continuing to grow as an annual tradition. Organizers hope the event will expand to include a more competitive tournament format to engage participants in new ways.
This year, the celebration is also extending beyond Valley Stream, with a second event scheduled for Nov. 1 in Brentwood, reflecting the organizers’ goal of reaching more communities.
