Festival Hispano USA to Offer an 'Encounter With Mexico'; Series of Festivals to Bring Mexico's Culture, Leading Stars to Top U.S. Markets

Festival Hispano USA to Offer an 'Encounter With Mexico'; Series of Festivals to Bring Mexico's Culture, Leading Stars to Top U.S. Markets

MIAMI, June 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Many of Mexico's brightest stars gathered today to unveil plans for a series of festivals recreating the authentic cuisine, music, cultural sites and events of Mexico, bringing a taste of home to Hispanics in the U.S. Entertainers including telenovela star Adela Noriega, television and musical star Paty Manterola, as well as Arath de la Torre, Sissi, Fabian Robles, Sergio Mayer, Ninel Conde, Fernando Swartz, Carla Estrada, Monica Noguera, Alicia Machado, El Norteno, Marco Flavio, Gerardo Flores y Orquesta, and Toni Melendez of Conjunto Primavera, announced the launch of "Festival Hispano USA" -- a larger-than-life production combining the spectacle of a grand festival such as the Festival de San Marcos in Aguascalientes with the excitement of an NFL event and cultural immersion of Epcot Center.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050622/DAW005 )

Festival Hispano USA is scheduled for Los Angeles' Sports Arena May 19-21, 2006, followed by Houston's Reliant Arena July 21-23, before traveling to Miami, New York, Chicago and other cities across the U.S., according to Javier Ruiz Galindo, president of marketing and entertainment firm Hispano USA, the creator and producer of the festivals.

"We have assembled an experienced team with the creative energy, marketing expertise, access to top entertainers and a proven track record in successfully executing large-scale grassroots programs," Ruiz-Galindo said. "The result is exciting new entertainment programming for the Hispanic audience offering advertisers the opportunity to connect with consumers on a new level."

Sponsors are responding to the concept, Ruiz Galindo said, with AeroMexico, Maseca, MoneyGram and homebuilder Conficasa among those signed on for the festival series, as well as many other brands like Chrysler, Jarritos, Nestle, Nike, Herdez, Blockbuster, Pepsi, that are also looking into participating in the event.

Designed to offer U.S. Hispanics an opportunity to reconnect with their roots, Festival Hispano USA events will feature the best in Mexican food, music and entertainment in a family-friendly atmosphere, including traditional cuisine, youth-friendly games, attractions and sporting events. The festivals will also offer U.S. fans an opportunity to see at one event some of Mexico's top-rated actors, singers, comedians, athletes and other stars idolized by millions of Hispanics in the U.S., who are tuning into Latin-American media and entertainment in record numbers.

"So many Hispanics come to the United States in search of economic opportunity, but as time passes they long for the customs, traditions and culture they left behind," said Ruiz Galindo. "Our Festival Hispano USA will offer an opportunity to reconnect with all they miss through an emotional encounter that involves all the senses -- through food, music and comedy, sports, the cinema and even architecture."

The festivals will feature elements reflecting cultural traditions of Mexico, including:

* An open-air plaza based on the famed "Plaza Garibaldi" in Mexico City, featuring mariachis and a market showcasing artisans and craftsmen. * Venues for concerts by musicians and comedians at "El Rincon de las Estrellas", including an area for comedy sketches, "El Callejon de la Risa," that is inspired by the Cervantes Festival in Guanajuato, Mexico. * Traditional Mexican restaurants and cafés using exclusively Latin brands. * Soccer-themed activities such as a variety of interactive games and soccer field demonstration matches for guests to test their skills. * Two "Cinetransformers," 95-seat mobile movie theaters showcasing films from the Golden Age of Mexican Cinema, as well as music concerts and 3D films. * Autograph kiosks where attendees can meet their favorite performers.

All festivals will include a box office, medical tent, information booths, banking facilities, restroom facilities, locker areas and merchandising stands. Hispano USA will provide full media support for the tour, including TV, radio, print, outdoor and point of sale materials.

Communications, marketing and entertainment firm Hispano USA was formed to offer the more than 36 million Hispanics residing in the United States cultural and entertainment to re-connect with the brands, activities and celebrities they know from home. The company's innovative sponsorship opportunities center around grassroots activities that allow advertisers to connect with consumers on an emotional level, through top-quality execution of integrated, turn-key programs.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050622/DAW005 AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/ PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com Source: Hispano USA

CONTACT: Lisa Cruz of Dublin & Associates, +1-210-227-0221 ext. 263, or cell, +1-210-724-1691; or Michelle Matula, +1-210-496-9583, both for Hispano USA

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