Tango, salsa or merengue to LatinoFest, Baltimore?s $65,000 fiesta held at Patterson Park this weekend.
The event, now in its 26th year, is a festival of live Latin music, ethnic food, information and even tango lessons. Proceeds from the event go to LatinoFest?s principle sponsor, Education Based Latino Outreach, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of Hispanic children and families in Maryland.
LatinoFest?s purpose is “to bring everybody together,” said José Ruiz, founder and current director of the organization. “It is very family-oriented.”
The best part about LatinoFest, according to Isaac Burak, a past vendor who plans on participating again this year, is “seeing so many people get together.”
Last year?s attendance reached 25,000, 95 percent of which were Latinos, according to Burak.
“So far I haven?t seen any problems at the festival. People talk, they play, they eat ? and they drink, of course,” he added, laughing.
The festival?s headliner, internationally known musician Larry Harlow, is bringing classic salsa dance music to Baltimore for the first time for the event, playing with his Latin Legends Band at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday. Other live music acts range from an Afro-Caribbean dance group to “Tex Mex” music.
“I?m really happy to see that Baltimore?s finally getting with it and realizing the potential of the Latino community,” Harlow said. “This subculture is really getting into the mix of things politically as well as socially.”
Ruiz started LatinoFest in 1980 and worked for years as the Hispanic liaison to many of Baltimore?s former mayors. LatinoFest began in order to support the growing Latin community, both as a visible cultural celebration and to help with educationalneeds.
“Education is a major, major issue in our community,” Ruiz said. “We come from 22 different countries, but this is not only targeting our own [countries], but people from other nationalities, to let people learn about us.”
Employment opportunities are a key feature of the festival and an important way in which it supports the families it celebrates.
As the Latino community spreads, so do the festivals. The first LatinoFest Baltimore County is 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Aug. 26 in Towson?s Court House Square.
In Baltimore or Towson, LatinoFest has much to bring to the community.
“It?s going to be a lot of fun,” Ruiz said.
LatinoFest
Location
» Patterson Park, Eastern and South Linwood avenues in Baltimore
Admission
» Adults/$5, Children under 12/free with adult
Schedule
Saturday
» 2 p.m. Afridansa:
Afro-Caribbean dance group
» 3 p.m. Dancing with Grace Productions: “Rueda” (Wheel) Performance (couples dance in a circle), dance lesson and dance contest
» 5 p.m. Rico and Inocentes: Reggaeton
» 6 p.m. Grupo Esmerado: Tex Mex Music
» 7 p.m. Son D? Aqui:
Salsa and Merengue Dance Music
» 8:30 p.m. Larry Harlow and His New Latin Legends Band: Classic Salsa Dance Music
Sunday
» 1 p.m. Latin American Folkloric Group: Traditional folk dances of Latin American and The Caribbean
» 2 p.m. Patrick Alban y Noche Latina: Acoustic Rock with a Latin beat
» 3 p.m. Arte Flamenco: Traditional Flamenco dance and guitar of Spain
» 3:30 p.m. Carlos Pabon: Tango dance demonstration
» 4 p.m. La Banda Caliente: Cumbia dance music
» 5 p.m. Mariachi Azteca: Traditional music of Mexico
» 6 p.m. Diamantes: Reggaeton
For more information
For directions and a full schedul, visit www.latinofest.org or call 410-783-5404.
