:: Bank of America Viva Broward!

Downtown Fort Lauderdale Becomes A Fiesta Village
With A Free Festival Showcasing The
Culture And The Genres Of Latin Music

Tito Puente Jr. Orchestra and Los Fugitivos Reggaeton headline at Bank of America Viva Broward!

THE FIESTA of the YEAR!
Closing out a Calendar of Events that began in August, the Bank of America VIVA BROWARD! Hispanic Heritage Month18th annual Festival and Expo will take place on Saturday and Sunday, October 20th and 21st at the Stranahan Park, in front of the Main Library on Broward Blvd and Andrews Avenue in downtown Fort Lauderdale Arts & Entertainment District.

The annual celebration is FREE from 11 am to 7pm and features the many genres of Latin music including salsa, reggaeton, cumbia, bachata, merengue, Mariachi and Latin jazz.

Headlining is the YOUNG PRINCE, Tito Puente, Jr. on Sunday, October 21st as a tribute to his late father. A natural heir to the throne of El Rey, he is unmistakably the son, physically, spiritually and musically of Tito Puente, seminal bandleader, percussionist and legendary good will ambassador of Latin music. Puente, Jr. has had two Spanish-language albums, several Billboard dance hits and a Latin Music Award for Best Salsa Video of the Year for his cover of his father's signature, "Oye Como Va." His second album contained the single bCalienteb with the arrangement by El Rey himself.

Now carrying his fatherbs torch, Puente, Jr. brings the music to a whole new generation with an album entitled "En Los Pasos De Mi Padre," (In My Father's Shoes); planned for a Spring 2004 release. bI am now performing the music of Tito Puente. I think it's very important that the youth of today understand the music of my father, la mC:sica de ayer, la mC:sica del Palladium. It's timeless music music that makes you dance.b

Headlining on Saturday, October 20th at 6 pm is south Florida's most recognized Reggaeton group, Los Fugitivos.(www.losfugitivospr.com) ReggaetC3n in Spanish is a form of urban music which became popular with Latin American youth during the early 1990's and spread over the course of 10 years. Reggaeton blends Jamaican music influences of reggae and dancehall with those of Latin America, such as bomba, plena, bachata as well as that off hip hop and Electronica. The music is also combined with rapping or singing medolically in Spanish, English or 'Spanglish'. Reggaeton has given the Hispanic youth, a musical genre that they can consider their own. Also appearing on Sunday is EL KYNTO ELEMENTO, a local reggaeton group that are developing a following at all the festivals in south Florida.

Bachata, Cumbia, Mexican Mariachi music, Puerto Rican boleros, and Latin jazz are also featured along with authentic Latin foods, free salsa dance lessons, arts and crafts, kids games and the annual bilingual business and charity expo. Families can enjoy a free day together under the shady trees of Stranahan Park. City parking is in walking distance to the festival. "This annual celebration showcases the culture and tradition of the diverse Latino community, and it offers small and corporate businesses and non-profit groups to outreach to the dynamic Hispanic market," said Erwin M. Vasquez, M.D. founder of Viva Broward. "It's also a way to bridge the gap between two cultures."

ENTERTAINMENT LINE-UP

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20
11 AM: DJ MUSIC and games
11:30: SUN DANZ
NOON; MENCIA MARTIAL ARTS SHOW
12:30 ALYSSA SANTIAGO
1:00 CASA SALSA DANCE LESSONS
1:30 VOCES DE AMERICA MARIACHI SHOW
2:15 YELITZE & JOSE FLORES BAND
3;30 SALSABOR TROPICAL SHOW
3:45 MIAMI HOMESTEAD SPEEDWAY DANCERS
4:00 SABOR LATINO ORCHESTRA
5;00 RICH HERNANDEZ TRIO
6:15 LOS FUGITIVOS REGGAETON

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21
11AM; DJ MUSIC & GAMES
NOON: CASA SALSA DANCERS
12:15 RODRIGO NAVARETTE Trio
12:45 MENCIA MARTIAL ARTS
1:00 ANGEL SANTIAGO
2:00 CORAZON COLOMBIANO SHOW
2:45 THE ZUMBA SHOW
3:15 MIAMI HOMESTEAD SPEEDWAY DANCERS
3:30 EL KYNTO ELEMENTO REGGAETON
4:15 5th AVENUE LATIN JAZZ BAND
5:30 TITO PUENTE, JR.

OFFSTAGE ENTERTAINMENT
Kids Games and Prizes, Face Painting, Mask Creations, Hispanic
Heritage Wall, Bilingual Health Expo, Bounce House, and many interactive booths, Health Fair

FOR UPDATES: Visit www.vivabroward.com or www.wedoevents.net