06/11/10

Heart and Hands presents the ninth annual Latino Festival Saturday, June 19 at Centennial Park in Plymouth. 

The festival is a celebration of the Latino culture in our area with music, events and entertainment for everyone and the best thing is admission is free.

The theme of the 2010 festival is celebrating the Bi-Centennial of Mexico’s independence. This year’s opening ceremonies will begin with a children’s parade depicting the heroes of Mexican history.

The Kid’s Barrio is a big attraction each year and this year will be filled with exciting things for the children from noon to 6 p.m.  Kids will enjoy games, piñatas, pony rides, face painting and much more.

Players from the South Bend Silver Hawks will be at the festival from 11 a.m. to noon to sign autographs for fans and Heart and Hands’ annual soccer tournament will begin at 10 a.m. on the Plymouth High School practice field.

On stage the entertainment begins at noon at the Young’s Amphitheater.

Dancing and music with a Latino flair will continue into the evening and include performers DJ Simba and Mariachi Zeyla (who presents traditional Mexican music).  Ballet Folklorico of Elkhart provides a dance experience. The band Los Bandits of Michigan performs with Tex-Mex music —  featuring a mix of Rhythm and Blues, Gospel and country rock. The day’s final performer will be Groupo IRONIA, a talented local band from Bremen.

Audience participation events such as the jalapeño and watermelon eating contests and the limbo contest, will provide fun for the whole family.

One of the events being planned for the festival is a silent auction, which will serve as a fundraiser for the organization. The Heart and Hands Latino Festival is the main fundraising event for the operation of the organization year-round.

Other events during the festival that raise funds are a 50/50 raffle, parking donations and a food booth.
New items and gift certificates are now being accepted as donations for the auction. Items can be dropped off at Heart and Hands, 220 1/2 North Center Street in Plymouth Tuesdays and Thursdays or at the Bremen Heart and Hands Mondays and Wednesdays, at 406 South Marshall Street.   All donors will be listed on this year’s fliers as a supporter of the organization and will be added to the volunteer T-shirts. For further information or donations pickup, call 574-935-3846 or 574-850-2203 or email heartandhandsinc@ embarqmail.com.

More than 100 volunteers give their time each year to make this day a success.  Heart and Hands is a 501 (3)(c) non-profit organizations and all donations are tax deductable.  Heart and Hands is a United Way member agency.


Provided by our news partners at the Pilot.