2009 Festival Latino Lineup Announced, Held 8/15, 8/16 In Columbus

Now in its 14th year, Festival Latino returns to downtown Columbus' riverfront on Saturday, August 15, and Sunday, August 16. Presented by American Family Insurance and produced by CAPA, the festival will offer a variety of local, national, and international Latin-American music acts including Saturday night headliner, the Spanish Harlem Orchestra, and Sunday night headliner, Tiempo Libre. Held in Genoa Park, Festival Latino will also include Latin-American food, merchandise, dance demonstrations, and dance instruction. Admission is free.

Additional festival support is provided by Fronteras de la Noticia, AEP Foundation, McDonald's, The Joseph A. Jeffrey Endowment Fund of the Columbus Foundation, Crush, Ohio Arts Council, the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department, La Jornada Latina, La Super X 103.1 FM, The Columbus Dispatch, DIRECTV, Miller Lite, Azteca America WCPX-TV 48, WDLR 1550 AM, Latinos Magazine, Chase, David and Mo Meuse, and Columbus Alive.

Fronteras Stage Performance Schedule

Saturday, August 15

12 pm - Sonido Montarbo

1:30 pm - Salpafuera

3 pm - Sammy De León

5 pm - Yumbambé

6:30 pm - Spanish Harlem Orchestra

Sunday, August 16

12 pm - Viento Alegre

1:30 pm - Gerson

3 pm - Acapulco

5 pm - Dejavu

6:30 pm - Tiempo Libre

Artist Biographies

Spanish Harlem Orchestra

Since its original conception in 2000, the Spanish Harlem Orchestra has established itself as the standard for contemporary Latin music. Directed by world-renowned pianist, arranger, and producer Oscar Hernández, the 13-member all-star ensemble has reintroduced the classic sounds of New York City salsa to music lovers worldwide. www.spanishharlemorchestra.net

Tiempo Libre

Two-time Grammy-nominated Tiempo Libre is celebrated for its incendiary, joyful performances of timba, an irresistible, dance-inducing mix of high-voltage Latin jazz and seductive Afro-Cuban rhythms. www.tiempolibremusic.com

Sonido Montarbo

DJ David Hernandez will spin a mix of the hottest Latin tracks of yesterday and today. www.myspace.com/sonidomontarbomisitio

Sammy DeLeón

Sammy DeLeón, Cleveland's Mambo King, combines his progressive style to traditional salsa rhythms to the delight of salsa, merengue, mambo, and Latin jazz music lovers. www.sammydeleonorchestra.com

Yumbambé

Yumbambé brings together the lush sound of jazz harmony with the vibrant rhythms of Afro-Cuban drumming in a diverse collection of meringue, calypso, bembe, cha cha, samba, and bossa nova. www.yumbambe.com

Viento Alegre

The 15 members of Viento Alegre will perform the finest in traditional Mexican music.

Gerson

Gerson specializes in Reggaeton, a mix of reggae, hip hop, and salsa, and has been featured on compilation CDs "Tha Crew 4" and "Rebeldia."

Acapulco

Latin-tropical band Acapulco plays the ever-popular salsa music, but also ventures into a broad Latin repertoire, high-energy Caribbean dance rhythms, and the exotic Brazilian lambada. www.acapulcopartyband.com

Dejavu

Mixing the Latin American rhythms of salsa, festejo, and joropo with the more modern genres of pop, rock, and funk, Dejavu offers a unique and eclectic Latin fusion. www.dejavulatinfusion.com

Dance Plaza

Saturday, August 15

2:30-3 pm - MÁS y Mambo, a Columbus-based dance company focusing on Afro-Caribbean dance and body movement, will offer free salsa instruction to festival-goers. www.masymambo.com

4:15-5 pm - Dayton-area dance company Grupo Caribe will hold a demonstration of their specialty, the dances of Puerto Rico.

Sunday, August 16

1-1:30 pm - Folclor Hispano, a folkloric dance company of The Ohio State University, will demonstrate the vibrant, traditional dances of Spanish-speaking countries.

http://folclor.org.ohio-state.edu/

2:30-3 pm - Shezronne Zaccardi of Salsa Chezotic will help ignite the Latin fire in festival-goers with free salsa dance instruction. www.chezotic.com

4:15-5 pm - Columbus Crew players will hold a free children's soccer clinic. www.thecrew.com

Children's Area

Saturday & Sunday, 12 pm - 6 pm daily, no charge for activities

Chaquira Bracelets - The Kuna Indians live in Panama and make beautiful necklaces, bracelets, and belts with beads called chaquira. They use these small beads to create intricate and colorful designs. Make your own chaquira bracelet based on Kuna designs.

Mexican Flowers - Big, beautiful flowers are used in Mexico to decorate on days of celebration. Join the members of Organización de Damas Latinas as they help children create these colorful decorations.

¡Maracas! -Many of the musicians at Festival Latino use maracas in their songs. Like timbales or congas, maracas are percussion instruments used to keep the beat of the music. Paint a maraca with traditional designs and then make some noise!

McDonald's Community Resources Area

The following organizations will also have information available about career opportunities, job training, and education programs:

Central Ohio Workforce Investment Corp. (COWIC)

FIRSTLINK

Homes on the Hill

Ohio Housing Finance Agency

Secretary of State - Voting Rights Institute

AEP Foundation Health & Wellness Area

The following organizations will offer health screenings and bilingual information on health and social services:

Central Ohio Diabetes Association

Franklin County Office on Aging

Lifeline of Ohio

Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program

U.S. Department of Labor-OSHA

Whitefields of America, Inc.

Marketplace

The Festival Latino marketplace will include jewelry, arts, crafts, and other traditional items from Latin America and the Caribbean. Vendors include:

Acapulco Crafts (jewelry, clothing)

Baraka Jewelry (jewelry, clothing, purses)

Cali Panchengero (clothing, flags, etc.)

Ecuador Crafts (Ecuadorian craft items)

Henna Art (temporary body art)

Inty Reymi (embroidery)

La Nirra Sterling Silver (sterling silver jewelry)

Latin Souvenirs (flags, clothing, etc.)

Mayan Treasures (clothing, gifts, etc.)

Novedades Leo (souvenirs)

Punch Me Now Embroidery (clothing)

Sumakta (Andes crafts)

Sunglasses by Linda (sunglasses)

Tzintzun Trading (ceramic items, clothing, fabrics, jewelry)

Festival Policy

Guests are encouraged to bring blankets for lawn seating. Coolers, chairs, tents, pets, umbrellas, handbills, solicitation or unauthorized sales, video cameras/recording devices, bicycles, and skateboards are not permitted.

Rain Policy

Festival Latino is a rain or shine event. There is no rain location.

Parking

Paid parking for the public and handicapped is available at COSI (333 W. Broad St.), Veterans Memorial (300 W. Broad St.), and nearby surface lots.

Bicycle Parking

Bicycle racks will be located at the corner of Broad and Washington.

Recorded bilingual information line: (614) 719-6744

Web site: www.FestivalLatino.net