Festival de las Americas weekend full of music, food and family
For the entire weekend, the Festival de las Americas held at the Shell Factory & Nature Park featured a celebration of the Hispanic culture.
There was non-stop music, including the famous Grammy award-winning Grupo Mania and Voz de Mando. Other entertainers included Jackie Rugal and the bands Samtum and Principos Negros, on the continuous roster.
“This was the highest caliber of entertainment for two days. Everyone is really enjoying this event,” said sponsor Mayela Rosales from D’Latinos and Azteca. From the D Latinos TV show, she was joined by the show’s Carlos Zapata.
A big part of the weekend was enjoying festivities with family members. She enjoyed the event with sons Gabriel and Daniel. “It was also a phenomenal showcase of food, from so many places – Cuba, Puerto Rico, Mexico and more. And we enjoyed working with the Shell Factory, who were great with all preparations for such a large event.”
Proceeds will now benefit the Shell Factory’s Nature Park Environmental Education Foundation and Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s scholarship fund.
The festival also included artwork on display, children’s activities, demonstrations of Latin Dance techniques, group salsa lessons.
Artists from various countries included those from the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Columbia and more.
Co-sponsors of the event included MediaVista and their subsidiaries Azteca America, SW Florida and D Latinos Magazine, Harborside Event Center, Le Lay- WAFZ AM 1490/FM 92.1, Comcast, State Farm, Fifth Third Bank, Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union, H & R Block and Botanica Guadalupe.
H & R Block sponsors came from all over the state. Local District Manager Cheryl Murray, Emelio Morales from Bradenton and Lydia Morales of Fort Myers were among the attendees. “We’re glad to be here,” Murray said. “I don’t feel we reach out to the Latin community as well as we could. so it was very important for us to be here.”
This festival was to really embrace the Latin culture, said Shell Factory Owner and Festival Coordinator Pam Cronin.
“So many from that heritage are wonderful customers here, so we wanted to put together special days for them and their families. They were here to celebrate Hispanic heritage and to share traditions. We are thrilled to add this event to our ever-increasing list of ‘Fests’ held throughout the year.