Festival celebrates Latino food, music

Aaronica Bivins of Floklorica Imagenes Mexicanos performs in 2007 at Latino Fest.

Promenade Park in downtown Toledo will be the site for a daylong celebration of Latino culture Saturday as the 11th Annual LatinoFest features food, music, and a variety of activities from 1 to 11:30 p.m.

Included in this year's event will be a salsa-tasting challenge, Tejano music stars Jimmy Edward and Joe Bravo, and a children's area with inflatables, games, and art activities.

"LatinoFest has become a tradition for Toledo. We welcome everyone to come down and enjoy the entertainment, food, and children's area," said event co-chairman Consuelo Hernandez in a news release.

Music will include the Aviso Band from San Antonio, Grupo Fuego out of Cleveland, and area bands Mariachi Cristal, Los Hermanos Villegas, Los Estrellas de Oro, and Yvonne Ramos.

Participants in the salsa-taste challenge include Gringo Valley Salsa, Bob's Best Salsa, Pratt's Patron, Good Morning Holland, Ernesto's, El Tipco, and El Camino Real's Maumee location.

The entertainment lineup and times are: Mariachi Cristal (1:30 p.m.), Jorge Marroquin (2:30 p.m.), Grupo Dezeo (3:30 p.m.), Los Estrellas de Oro (4:30 p.m.), Yvonne Ramos (5:30 p.m.), Grupo Fuego (6 p.m.), Los Hermanos Villegas (7 p.m.), and Jimmy Edward and Joe Bravo with Avizo (8:30-11:30 p.m.).

The children's activity area will be open from 1 to 5 p.m.