Latin American Festival

Celebration, in its 18th year, returns with more dance, food, music and fun

You used to know it as the Festival Hispano. This year, you'll know it as the Latin American Festival. Whatever you call it though, it translates to a lot of fun.

Sunday's fiesta will go from noon to 6 p.m. at the North Charleston Wannamaker County Park. It is in celebration of everything Latin and wraps up September's Hispanic Heritage Month.

"Everyone should come," said Matt Rosebrock, Festival and Event Manager. "It's not necessarily just for people from Latin countries. We want to make it a fun day for all the residents of Charleston County, to celebrate something different. It's not something you get to experience every day, the various sights and sounds from Latin America."

"I'd say it's a good melting pot of people from the Latin countries as well as Mexican," he continued. "And people that are native to the United States as well."

The Latin American Festival is in its 18th year. Rosebrock says it is the diversity of its offerings that keep people coming back. With so many countries that bring six hours of dance, music and food, no festival is ever the same from one year to the next.

"We're calling it a celebration of food, music and culture," said Rosebrock.

"We're featuring salsa music, as well as music from Mexico, which would be Cumbia. We have various dance groups that will be performing dances from Cuba, Brazil, Panama. We also have a salsa dance contest.

"The festival also features food from various Latin countries. We have Venezuelan food, food from Puerto Rico, Peru, Colombia. We also have a children's area that is hosted by the Charleston County public library. They really have education on the various Latin countries like geography and history."

The headlining band will be Bio Ritmo, a nationally touring, eight-piece salsa band. Also featured will be Banda del Sol, Klenda and DJ Luigi Bravo.

Buen Ache Dance Company will bring the heat on the dance floor. They are a dance company that combines Latin and African rhythms and dance routines with colorful costumes and attitudes. Other performing acts include a Panamanian dance group and Capoiera Charleston.

"Charleston County parks, one of our main goals is to provide fun and diverse and unique ways to recreate through our parks to the residents of Charleston County," said Rosebrock.

"This is a good way to get the word out, that there are other cultures that are fun, that have good music and good food."

If you go

What: 18th annual Latin American Festival.

Where: North Charleston Wannamaker County Park, 8888 University Blvd.

When: Noon-6 p.m. Sunday.

Cost: Adults (13 and up), $10 or six books of Greenbax stamps; ages 12 and under and Gold Pass holders are free.

More info: www.ccprc.com, or 572-7275.