FIESTA PUERTO RICO! The 6th annual celebration of the culture of the Caribbean island is set for JUNE 29th – 11 am to 8 pm - FREE Outdoor Cultural Fes

FIESTA PUERTO RICO! The 6th annual celebration of the culture of the Caribbean island is set for JUNE 29th – 11 am to 8 pm - FREE Outdoor Cultural Festival & Indoor Concert to benefit ASPIRA.

The unique musical traditions that often combine Spanish language song forms with African-derived instrumentation and rhythms is what local Puerto Ricans, and the entire community will enjoy at the 6th annual FIESTA! Puerto Rico set for Saturday, June 29th at the Coral Springs Center for the Arts from 11 am to 8pm. The outdoor festival will take place on the grounds of the Theater and parking is free all day.

Plans are underway for a Grammy award winner concert inside the theater to benefit ASPIRA.
The outdoor cultural festival venue will feature Bomba, the uniquely Puerto Rican and African-derived sound that has call-and-reponse lyrics to the accompaniment of drums, percussion instruments and the wearing of the traditional mask called “vejigante” to scare away evil spirits. Also featured is Plena, a song form performed by singers with narrative lyrics, colorful folkloric dancers and musicians with Spanish-influence costumes... often worn on holidays.

Although Puerto Rico has a rich folk music tradition, fast-tempoed salsa music is the most widely known indigenous Puerto Rican music…and FIESTA! will deliver it all!

The relatively new genre of dance music, REGGAETON that has become popular in Puerto Rico over the last decade and recently surfaced in the U.S. will also take the stage at FIESTA. This popular dance beat has been derived from the reggae music of Jamaica and heavily influenced by urban hip-hop and Puerto Rican bomba and salsa rhythms

The traditional costumes, the dances and songs and the performers simply cannot complete a Puerto Rican celebration without the FOOD of the island. Many dishes are seasoned with a savory mixture of spices known as “sofrito” garlic, green peppers, onions & seasoned salt in a wooden bowl sautéed in hot oil and “achiote seeds, the base for an oily sauce. Bacalodo, a staple of the Puerto Rican diet is a flaky, salted cod fish. Other gastronomical delights that will be sold by food vendors include arroz con pollo, lechon asado, gandules, pasteles, asopao, deep fried plantains and alcupurria. These dishes are washed down with cerveza and Puerto Rican rum.

While having a great time, many charities will benefit with free booth space and outreach support. Arts and crafters, small businesses and corporate sponsors will be manning colorful booths with giveaways and raffle prizes. A children’s area with games and prizes, free dance lessons and children’s performances will make it a great family day.

With more than 400,000 Latinos living in Broward County alone, it’s an opportunity for sponsors and local merchants to reach the Hispanic consumer. The purchasing power studies indicate a strong future growth of the 2nd & 3rd generation English-speaking Hispanic market…and Broward is the place to be to target this dynamic, sophisticated consumer. Direct marketing at festivals and other non-traditional community activities captures this consumer, and once on board, statistics prove that Latinos remain loyal.

For information on vendor space or sponsorships visit www.wedoevents.net or call (954) 527-0627.