Description:
The Eleventh Annual Festival Latino, a cross-cultural day of music, food and family-style fun, will take place Saturday, November 7th at 11am at Hugh MacRae Park, S. College Road and Oleander Drive. Sponsored by Amigos Internacional, the day long celebration will give residents the opportunity to share in the diverse Latino cultures of the Cape Fear region. An increasingly popular event, organizers expect attendance at this year’s Festival to hit new highs. Judging from how we've done in past years, we’re expecting more than 20,000 people to attend, said Lucy Vasquez, festival founder and leading advocate for the Latino community. It’s an opportunity for people with different languages and backgrounds to enjoy each other’s company, as well as their differences. Besides offering hungry crowds authentic cuisine from Latino countries - among them Puerto Rico, Mexico, Panama, El Salvador and Colombia -- festival-goers also will enjoy:

*Entertainment; Live Bands and singers, free dance lessons, performances by Latin dance groups, children's performances, and church presentations.

*Kids Fiesta activities in the children’s area; Piñatas every hour, clowns, magicians, gigantic puppets, balloons, lots of inflatable rides and lots of games with prizes. The Great Mexican Hat Race, starting at noon, then once an hour all day. Pass the Sombrero to your teammates in this wacky relay!

* Exhibitors; Health and Human Service Fair, offering Latinos and other residents the opportunity to learn about community programs. Arts & Crafts for sale; local and regional artists and craftsmen including silversmiths and pottery.

* The local Spanish Churches will be presenting their best church talent in Solos, Trios, Bands, Dance and Drama. This promises to be a very inspirational event!