Thursday, June 4, 2009

Hispanic heritage festival returns to Iowa

Hispanic festival returns Saturday
Day features music, food and other entertainment
By ANDREW POTTER, TIMES-REPUBLICAN, June 3, 2009

The Marshalltown Central Business District, partnering with Iowa Valley Continuing Education and other volunteers, have taken the reins of the Hispanic Heritage Festival which was canceled last year when the previous organizer moved out of town.

The event is back for the fifth time and will include a day full of music, food and entertainment at the Marshall County Courthouse lawn Saturday.

"The CBD took it over as one our events to make sure it continues to happen," said Tina Shapley, co-chair of the event.

The day will begin with food vendors at noon followed by music at 1 p.m by the Mexicana band Universo Musical.

Augustin Chavez will do his impersonations of famous Mexican entertainers at 4:30 p.m. The day wraps up with a performance by the band Perdido at 6 p.m.

For local Hispanics, the festival is a way to celebrate their culture. For others, it's a way to learn.

"It's a way to get to know about another culture in a fun, relaxed atmosphere," Shapley said.

The Families for Woodbury Elementary School will be doing a fundraiser from 1 to 3 p.m. at the event. It is a truck climb where children can climb into different types of vehicles including an ambulance, fire truck and police car.

Event organizer Beth Burkemper said she experienced a similar event in Iowa City.

"The concept is so simple yet so entertaining that I couldn't resist trying it in Marshalltown," she said.

There will be no entry fee to see the music and other entertainment but children's games, food and the truck climb will have a charge.

Contact Andrew Potter at 641-753-6611 or apotter@timesrepublican.com

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