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Conjunto artist Los Estrellas de Oro of Grand Rapids MI will round out the evening’s entertainment with a 9 p.m. performance.
DJ Nando will also perform, along with dance troupes El Corazón de México and Ballet Folklorico Imagenes Mexicanas.
Los niños will be the focus of the MidWest LatinoFest as Diego from the Nickelodeon TV show “Go Diego Go!” will make a special appearance during the festivities that afternoon.
But the family-friendly fun won’t stop with Nickelodeon’s Diego’s appearance at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on the main entertainment stage but, also, a 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. appearance in the family and children’s activity area. There will also be a photo opportunity from noon until 1 p.m. hosted by The Blade.
Go, Diego, Go! follows eight-year-old Diego Márquez, a bilingual animal rescuer and nature expert that has the ability to talk to animals, and takes adventurous journeys inspired by the rich environments of Latin America and by the animals that make their homes in those habitats. In each episode, Diego and his friends encourage kids to use scientific thinking and investigative strategies to help animals in trouble. The series airs daily at 10 and 10:30 a.m. ET on Nickelodeon.
In Toledo, Buckeye Cable System has aired the popular Diego show, along with his prima, Dora.
Go Diego Go! was created and is executive produced by Chris Gifford and Valerie Walsh, the same team behind Nick’s groundbreaking global preschool phenomenon Dora the Explorer, which is currently celebrating its 10th anniversary.
“For the children, it’s exciting,” said Nanette Nieto, festival secretary/treasurer. “Diego is a character watched by many Latino and Anglo children. On television he is a bilingual character who speaks both English and Spanish.”
Lots of other kids’ activities are planned including: Sofia Quintero Art & Cultural Center’s arts and crafts, the Toledo Zoo’s Hands on Activities, Home Depot’s Tool Box creations as gifts for Father’s Day on June 17, and Sparks dance/cheerleading performances.
MidWest LatinoFest kicks off at noon with a special Blessing performed by Father Juan Francisco Molina of SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Parish. The service will be followed by a flag presentation by an honor guard and the national anthem sung by Veronica Herrera.
A committee of area volunteers has quickly pulled together the long-time Latino tradition under a new name, after the principals of the former Latinofest committee—Margarita DeLeón and Consuelo Hernández—disbanded the event. The MidWest LatinoFest group began meeting in February to plan this year’s event—many of its members were part of Latinofest.
“A lot of people on that planning committee have worked really hard to continue the tradition,” said Ms. Nieto. “They’ve worked very hard throughout the day, late evenings, and weekends to continue the tradition for the Latino community.”
More information and a complete schedule of events can be found at midwestlatinofest.com.
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