Latino Fest hits Bloomington

The IU Festival Latino is coming to Bloomington this weekend in honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month. The event will take place from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday at La Casa Latino Cultural Center, 715 E. Seventh St. The event will feature authentic food and music as well as the 2004 Mini-Soccer Tournament, in which four local teams will be competing. \nLillian Casillas, director of the Latino Cultural Center, said this will be the seventh year for the festival. \n"There will be various children's activities," she said. "The festival will also feature some folk art and booths with student groups." \nCasillas said 40 different information booths will be at the festival providing visitors with information. Local Peruvian restaurant Legacy of the Incas will sell $3 food plates.\n"What we will sell is arroz con pollo -- chicken rice and green peas cooked with cilantro -- and papa rellena -- deep fried mashed potatoes with seasoned ground beef," said Giovanan Kagemann, a Legacy of the Incas employee.\nCasillas said the festival is for people of all backgrounds. \n"It's about celebrating diversity," she said. "Come enjoy the food, hear the music and learn about new cultures in a fun environment."\nJunior Alonso Mejia, coordinating chair for the Latino Enhancement Cooperative, said this is the first year a student organization has planned the festival. \n"This year's festival took a lot of planning," he said. "But I think in the end, it will pay off."\nMejia helped contact the different music groups that will be performing at the festival. According to a press release he sent out, the bands will include Rubin Rodriguez y su Conjunto from Argentina, Mariachi Zelaya of Indianapolis and the explosive Orchestra Rumba from Chicago, providing salsa, merengue and Latin dance beats. \nThe music and activities at the festival will be free to all, as fund- raisers and local corporations paid for the event. For more information, contact 855-0174.\n-- Contact staff writer Stacey Laskin at slaskin@indiana.edu.