Hispanic music festival planned for Sacajawea Park

Sacajawea State Park plays host to Festival Mexicana
PRESS RELEASE

Olympia –June 23, 2009 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission Folk Arts in the Parks Program invites the public to Festival Mexicana at Sacajawea State Park, near Pasco, Washington. All are welcome at this free event.

The celebration runs from 1 to 7 p.m. Sunday, July 19, at Sacajawea State Park, 2503 Sacajawea Park Road, east of Pasco, off U.S. Highway 12, between Pasco and the Snake River Bridge.

Headlining the program will be Tri-Cities’ own Tormenta de Durango and El Arranque Norteño, and the folklórico dancers and costumes of the Yakima Valley’s Los Bailadores del Sol. The schedule of events includes:

1 p.m. - Welcome

1:30 p.m. - Fortaleza de Tierra Caliente

2:30 p.m. - El Arranque Norteño

3:30 p.m. - Los Bailadores del Sol

5 p.m. - Tejano Knights

6 p.m. - Tormenta de Durango

Eva Castellanoz, nationally recognized Smithsonian folk artist, will demonstrate the art of wax and paper flower making. Traditional food will be available for purchase.

Co-sponsors of Festival Mexicana include the Latino Business Association of TriCities, La Voz Hispanic Newspaper and Bustos Media (Radio Ke Buena 97.9 FM & Radio La Gran D 96.7 FM).

The celebration is part of the fifth season of a broader series of free events celebrating Washington’s diverse cultures, presented by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission’s Folk and Traditional Arts in the Parks Program in cooperation with Northwest Heritage Resources. The Folk and Traditional Arts in the Parks Program is a partnership between the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission and the Washington State Arts Commission. Additional funding support for the series is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Washington State Arts Commission, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission.

Festival Mexicana is accessible to persons with disabilities. If special accommodations are required in order to attend, please call (509) 545-2361 or (360) 902-8526. Those who are hearing- and/or speech-impaired may call the Washington Telecommunications Relay Service at (800) 833-6388. Requests must be made in advance.

The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission thanks the public for supporting state parks. Donations made to State Parks through the vehicle license tab renewal program starting with September 2009 renewals will keep state parks open in the two-year budget cycle beginning July 1, 2009, provided adequate revenues are collected. The Commission manages a diverse system of more than 100 state parks and recreation programs, including long-distance trails, boating safety and winter recreation. The 96-year-old park system will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2013.