Latino Philly Sizzles This Summer With Festivals, Arts Of All Sorts & More

PHILADELPHIA, May 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Visitors in the mood for a summer festival, an art display or a tour around town will find just what they're looking for in Philadelphia, the second-largest, Hispanic-populated city in the northeast. With the Hispanic population growing faster than any other ethnic group in the region, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, many new arts and cultural opportunities are emerging that celebrate Hispanic traditions. Here's a look at what's going on this spring and summer:

Festival Fever:

• Raices Culturales Latinoamericanas' first annual Latin Roots & Rhythms Festival gets underway from May 7 through 9. The three-day event, taking place at locations throughout the city, celebrates Latin-American, Spanish and African dance, music and culture with 14 hours of entertainment and authentic performances that start at a recession-friendly $8 to $17. (215) 425-1390, latinrootsandrhythmsfestival.com
• Philadelphia celebrates Hispanic heritage all summer long at Penn's Landing during the popular PECO Multicultural Series. The annual series of 11 festivals includes the Hispanic Fiesta (July 10-11), Caribbean Fest (August 22) and the Mexican Independence Day Festival (September 12)—all featuring food, folklore, crafts, dance and music. Great Plaza, Columbus Boulevard at Chestnut Street, (215) 922-2FUN, delawareriverevents.com
• Philly brings the world together again this summer during Global Fusion Week and Festival, July 12 through 17. Restaurant discounts and drink specials are available across Philadelphia all week, and festivities wrap up on Saturday with a free festival featuring big-name bachata performers, salsa dancing, food and craft vendors and kid's activities. Great Plaza, Columbus Boulevard at Chestnut Street, (215) 636-3322, globalfusionfestival.com 

Art & About:

• Taller Puertorriqueno plays host to two art exhibitions this spring and summer. On view through June 5: What Appears and Disappears, a mixed media print instillation that explores the importance of mark making in art, family and on the path of individuals. Then, from June 25 through July 24, Dignity Transforms brings two artists together to give viewers insight on how art can impact and transform a community. 2721 N. 5^th Street, (215) 426-3311, tallerpr.org
• On display May 15 through July 16 at Drexel University's Leonard Pearlstein Gallery, Ni Una Mas features more than 70 works of art by 20 international artists, including Yoko Ono and Kiki Smith. The powerful exhibit demonstrates how art can be a force for social change. 3401 Filbert Street, (215) 895- 2548, drexel.edu/juarez
• Phanatico Latino is one of 20 hand-painted Phillie Phanatics on display throughout the summer as part of the "Phanatic Around Town" public art project. Artist Marta Sanchez pays homage to the Latino Phillies players with her fiberglass statue at the Independence Seaport Museum. Once there, visitors can learn why Philadelphia was the fourth largest immigration port in the 20^th century. 211 S. Columbus Boulevard, (215) 413-8655, phillyseaport.org
• In Philadelphia, 3,000 indoor and outdoor walls have been transformed with images of heroes, landscapes or inspiring scenes. During the second week of every month, a Philadelphia Mural Arts Tour showcases the murals of North Philadelphia, including those found in El Centro de Oro, the heart Philadelphia's Latino community. Tours depart from the Independence Visitor Center on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 10:00 a.m. Mural tours run from April through November and explore a different neighborhood each week. 6^th & Market Streets, (215) 536-7676, muralarts.org

More Not To Miss:

• Philadelphia's first LEED-certified lounge and restaurant, Square 1682 opened at the Kimpton's Hotel Palomar Philadelphia with Chef Guillermo Tellez at the helm. Tourists and locals alike will enjoy the new six-course Latino Night dinner series on Sunday nights. 121 S. 17^th Street, (215) 563-5008, square1682.com
• Philadelphia's new professional soccer team, the Philadelphia Union, has already won the affection of the city's passionate sports fans. The team will play several major games at Lincoln Financial Field, and then move to the new 18,500-seat PPL Park stadium in Chester when it opens on June 27. (877) 21-UNION, philadelphiaunion.com

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