Hispanic Heritage Events Bloom In Philadelphia This Spring & Summer

USA - English

• Latin America - español

PHILADELPHIA, April 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Hispanic Heritage Month takes place from September 15 through October 15, but Philadelphia celebrates the rich culture all year long with festivals, art exhibitions, sporting events and more. There's even more on the calendar in 2013 thanks to the citywide, month-long Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts (PIFA), which includes several new collaborations and artistic performances.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130416/PH95108)

Here's a look at some of the happenings taking place this spring and summer:

Feeling Festive:

• South Philly has become the hub of Mexican immigration in the region, especially for those from Puebla, Mexico. Folks dressed in bearded masks, capes, headdresses and other traditional garb stroll along Washington Avenue and its surrounding streets to commemorate the Battle of Puebla for the 7^th Annual Carnaval de Puebla. April 28. (215) 253-3040, sanmateocarnavalero.com
• Latino sensation Prince Royce brings his talent to Festival Pier as the headliner for the
  2013 El Zol Fest. The Memorial Day weekend concert brings live entertainment, family fun and the start to great summer memories. May 25. Columbus Boulevard & Spring Garden Street, elzolphilly.com, ticketmaster.com
• The Council of Spanish Speaking Organizations, Inc. hosts its annual Hispanic Fiesta, a weekend-long celebration filled with music and dancing at the Great Plaza at Penn's Landing. The festival attracts 30,000 revelers eager to enjoy authentic food, traditional crafts and salsa, merengue, bachata, samba, cumbia, mariachi and flamenco dancing. July 13-14.

Columbus Boulevard & Chestnut Street, (215) 922-2FUN, delawareriverevents.com

Family Fun:

• The Norris Square Neighborhood Project (NSNP) celebrates Latino culture, youth and gardening in a big way when Garden Exploration Week takes place from April 29-May 3. The week-long event combines green living and discovery with gardening lessons, scavenger hunts and garden crafts. On June 15, NSNP hosts the 40^th Anniversary Festival de Bambulae, an annual and colorful garden party featuring delicious Puerto Rican dishes, bomba dancing, dance lessons and art. (215) 634-2227, myneighborhoodproject.org
• At PPL Park this summer, the Philadelphia Union soccer team puts on Hispanic Heritage Night, when fans get a feel for the diverse cultures of Spain and Latin America with traditional foods and entertainment. The festivities take place during the Union's game against the Chicago Fire. August 3. 1 Stadium Drive, Chester, (610) 497-1657, philadelphiaunion.com

Artistic Attractions:

• Intercultural Journeys presents highlights from Guadalupe: Our Lady of the Roses at the Esperanza Center. Composed by James DeMars and featuring members of the Philadelphia Singers Chorale, the opera presentation includes amazing percussion, strings and vocals by both renowned professionals and student groups. April 19. 191 W. Hunting Park Avenue, pifa.org
• For the production 1492: Music and Dance from Spain to the Americas, Maria del Pico Taylor and international guest artists take the Suzanne Roberts Theatre audience on a trip spanning 9^th-century Spain to 19^th-century Cuba. Inspired by Christopher Columbus' arrival to the New World, the multimedia music and dance show explores various musical roots and their transformations after many cultural encounters. April 25. 480 S. Broad Street, (215) 985-0420, pifa.org
• The Filadelfia Latin American Film Festival showcases the extraordinary and innovative work of modern Latino filmmakers. Movie lovers will take in culturally diverse films, program shorts, documentaries and receptions. Films include The Unique Ladies, a short documentary about women involved in the lowrider culture, and Paal, the story a Mayan boy with a dream to share the stories of his people. April 27-28. International House Philadelphia, 3701 Chestnut Street; Prince Music Theater, 1412 Chestnut Street, flaff.org
• Photographer and educator Tony Rocco presents Photography Without Borders, an educational and photography-based cultural exchange project, in which children from North Philadelphia and the rural village of La Florida, Colombia examine and share conversations about photography. At Taller Puertorriqueno, photos and videos capture what happens when the children's worlds and ideas collide. June 14-20. 2721 N. 5^th Street, (215) 426-3311, tallerpr.org

Tweet It: Hispanic heritage celebrations take place all year in @VisitPhilly. Plan your spring and summer festivities: http://vstphl.ly/XXRB16

The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) makes Philadelphia and The Countryside^® a premier destination through marketing and image building that increases business and promotes the region's vitality.

For more information about travel to Philadelphia, visit visitphilly.com or uwishunu.com, where you can build itineraries; search event calendars; see photos and videos; view interactive maps; sign up for newsletters; listen to HearPhilly, an online radio station about what to see and do in the region; book hotel reservations and more. Or, call the Independence Visitor Center, located in Historic Philadelphia, at (800) 537-7676.

SOURCE Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation