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SANTA ANA, Calif.--(HISPANIC PR WIRE - BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 10, 2002--Time was when The City of Santa Ana's Annual "Fiestas Patrias" event held throughout the streets of its historic downtown was meant to celebrate "el diez y seis de septiembre," Mexican Independence Day, a festive commemoration for the vast Latino population that calls this city home. That was before September 11th.
"We saw here, as we saw throughout the country, that this neighborhood is a community of Americans first and foremost," said Mathew Lamb, Santa Ana Downtown Development Manager and one of the key administrators behind "Fiestas Patrias." This year the city will honor America's diversity and the strength of all the nationalities throughout the Americas contributing to the demography of Santa Ana by calling the event "Fiestas of the Americas." "Our event will still celebrate our rich Latino culture, but we will also honor the spirit of inclusion - for all those in North, Central and South America," said Lamb.
"Fiestas of the Americas" will still have the pop of "Fiestas Patrias." The event will feature a concert stage with live bands, carnival rides and an assortment of multi-cultural food booths and arts & crafts exhibits. There will also be family fun activities and a variety of sponsor exhibits to keep the anticipated crowd of over 200,000 entertained over the three-day weekend starting Friday, September 13th through Sunday night, September 15th.
City and event planners are taking this opportunity to emphasize how Santa Ana is quietly becoming a Mecca for the arts and education. Already home to the Museum of Discovery and the Ronald Reagan Federal Building, developers have created a thriving artist's community with galleries and lofts adjacent to downtown. "We're going to have a mini-arts festival within `Fiestas of the Americas,'" said Norma Cunningham, owner of Cunningham Gallery of Fine Art. "On 2nd Street at the Plaza of the Artists we'll be displaying art from a number of our galleries that recalls our city's Latino roots. It's the first time in the 14-year history of Fiestas that we are adding this event to unify the downtown area and to create a multicultural experience. We sent 9,000 invitations out to invite art lovers to join us in celebrating!"
Hours for "Fiestas of the Americas" will be Friday, September 13th from 5-10 pm; Saturday, September 14th from 11 am - 10 pm; and Sunday, September 15th, from 11 am - 9 pm. Admission is free although attendees should expect to pay for carnival rides and food and parking.
"Fiestas of the Americas" is produced for Santa Ana's Downtown Business Association by All Access Entertainment, producers of McDonald's Fiesta Broadway in Los Angeles and a host of other cultural events throughout Southern California. For more details contact Peter Bellas at 310/914-8308.
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CONTACT:
All Access Entertainment
Peter Bellas, 310/914-8308
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