Hot times in the city
The hottest ticket in town is not hard to come by … if you come by Fiesta Salsa on Saturday. And the price is certainly right -- admission is free.
The ninth annual Fiesta Salsa, marking National Hispanic Heritage Month, is a celebration of Hispanic cultures taking place at Festival Park, corner of Prairie Street and Grove Avenue in Elgin. It is presented by the Hispanic Heritage Coalition and Comcast.
The day begins at noon with a parade led by NBC's Natalie Martinez.
The parade steps off from School District U-46 headquarters, 355 E. Chicago St., Elgin. It then heads south onto Chapel Street and west onto Prairie Street, continuing on Prairie to Festival Park.
A highlight of the parade is the appearance of the new 2007 Miss Hispanidad. Martha Jimenez Lasso, 18, of Elgin, earned the crown at the Aug. 17 pageant.
Lasso was born in Cuernavaca, Mexico and came to the United States at age 6. She was placed in a bilingual program until fourth grade and progressed to advanced placement classes.
Lasso will attend the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where she plans to pursue a career in international relations, with a minor in linguistics with an emphasis on French. She hopes to work at an embassy or with the United Nations.
An impressive lineup of entertainment and activities follow the parade and continue until 11 p.m.
The main attraction comes all the way from Colombia. The renowned salsa group Sonora Carruseles will highlight this year's main stage entertainment.
Sonora Carruseles, formed in 1995, has had hits in several European countries, the United States and Latin America. With songs like "Micaela" and "Arranca En Fa" they continue to be a leader in salsa music.
"This is the first time this group has been in this area," said Jacob Gutierrez, marketing committee chair of the Hispanic Heritage Coalition.
Various other artists in different genres of music will also perform throughout the day.
There are some competitions, too, where the public can earn prizes -- such as the Salsa Taste Challenge and the Jalapeno-Eating Contest.
Adults can enjoy the beer and margarita garden and a variety of authentic Hispanic cuisine, while the children can enjoy one of the activities tailored for them.
This is one of two major events put on by the Hispanic Heritage Coalition of Elgin, which was incorporated in 2000; the other is the Miss Hispanidad Scholarship program. The coalition's mission is to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month and promote the education of young Hispanics.
Fiesta Salsa, which started in 1999, has grown into one of the largest outdoor festivals in the Fox Valley area.
"When I began as a volunteer four years ago, there were about 2,500 to 3,000 people throughout the day," Gutierrez said.
"Last year there were anywhere from 6,000 to 7,000, more than double -- and we expect it to be even larger this year," he added.
"We made sure fliers were given out in Hanover Park, Streamwood, Carpentersville, and other communities so that people who would enjoy the fiesta would know about it," Gutierrez said.
The mission of Fiesta Salsa is to promote harmony within the various Hispanic and non-Hispanic cultures and celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month.
For more information, visit Web site www.fiestasalsa.org.
If you go
What: Fiesta Salsa
Where: Festival Park, corner of Prairie Street and Grove Avenue in Elgin
When: Starts with parade at noon, with a day full of entertainment and activities. Parade steps off from School District U-46 headquarters, 355 E. Chicago St., Elgin.
Info: fiestasalsa.org