Viva Laughlin! One of the Largest Hispanic Celebrations to Showcase an Extravaganza of Top Latino Arts & Entertainment by the River

Viva Laughlin! One of the Largest Hispanic Celebrations to Showcase an Extravaganza of Top Latino Arts & Entertainment by the River

LAUGHLIN, Nev., June 28 /PRNewswire/ -- The Laughlin Tourism Committee and the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority (LVCVA) together with Pochteca Events Works, announced today the program of events that will take place during the 2nd annual Viva Laughlin!. A festival celebrating Latino Heritage Month, Viva Laughlin! is one of the largest and most exhilarating celebrations showcasing Latino arts, entertainment and sports. This city-wide event is scheduled for October 7-10, 2005.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050628/LATU101)

During this exciting four-day extravaganza, each of Laughlin's nine casino-resorts will host a variety of events, from award winning entertainers -- both musical and comical -- to boxing and beautiful Latina models.

Back by popular demand, funnymen Alex Reymundo and Joey Medina from the Original Latin Kings of Comedy return to the festival featuring special guest Darren Carter Saturday through Monday at the Ramada Express Hotel & Casino. These hot comediennes have carved out an important place in comedy in the United States. More laughs will be followed by popular comediennes Richard Villa, Rick Gutierrez and Armando Cosio at the Colorado Belle Saturday and Sunday. In addition, for all sports fans, Viva Laughlin! is proud to present the amazing sport of Pro-Female Boxing at Harrah's Hotel & Casino.

A variety of top-name musical entertainment will also be available each night of the celebration. In a ground breaking feat Viva Laughlin! showcases two GRAMMY(R) award winning artists: the two- time GRAMMY (R) award winning Latin Pop recording artist Jon Secada who will perform on Saturday at the Flamingo Laughlin Hotel & Casino; and the legendary GRAMMY(R) award winning Tejano superstar Freddie Fender who will perform two nights Saturday and Sunday at Don Laughlin's Riverside Resort. In addition, popular Colombian Tropical music star Yari More and his Orchestra may be seen Saturday and Sunday at the Colorado Belle Hotel & Casino. More musical sounds gathered on this spectacular festival include: Salsa, Cumbia, Cha, Cha, Cha group Orchestra Rumbaney Friday through Sunday nights at the Ramada Express and New Mexico's leading female duet (identical twins) Las Florecitas who take their accordion driven Norteno/Tejano sound to the extreme. In addition, Friday through Monday nights, the Victory Plaza (located outside on Casino Drive) at the Ramada Express will convert into a night club featuring DJ Boy London -- Jose Angel Mendoza.

Miss Hawaiian Tropic Latina Models will bring more excitement by showcasing the beauty of Latina women Friday through Saturday at the Colorado Bell Hotel Casino. In addition great drink specials, food and contests will be offered. The Hawaiian Tropic pageant is the #1 pageant system in the world and the most extensive promotion for an event of this nature.

Located 90 miles south of Las Vegas, Laughlin is a unique resort destination with a relaxed and friendly atmosphere that welcomes over 5 million visitors annually. This city by the river has grown to host nine resorts with affordable first-class accommodations and a multitude of recreational activities. Laughlin has also become one of the leading special-events destinations in the Southwest, offering the adventurous spectator everything from world-class rodeo action, to daring off-road racing and powerboat racing on the Colorado River.

To purchase event tickets call Prestige Ticketing at 1 (800) 308-2253.

For more information, visit www.visitlaughlin.com/viva and www.pochtecaeventworks.net or call Mario Cobian with Pochteca Event Works at 310-876-0071.

About the Laughlin Tourism Committee

The Laughlin Tourism Committee, a division of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, provides the strategic vision for the destination of Laughlin. It is responsible for marketing Laughlin to the Southwest and the world.

About Pochteca Event Works

Pochteca Event Works is the leading Hispanic Event Marketing, Promotions & Entertainment company servicing the largest and high-profile Latino properties nationwide. The company has successfully initiated and branded some of the countries most important Hispanic events in the United States such as Edward James Olmos Latino Book & Family Festival, the largest Latin expo in the U.S. and Fiesta Broadway -- Los Angeles, the largest Cinco de Mayo event in the country and Fiesta Del Sol -- Chicago, the largest Latin festival in the Midwest.

Website: http://www.visitlaughlin.com/viva http://www.pochtecaeventworks.net

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050628/LATU101 AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/ PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com Source: Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority

CONTACT: Axel Colin of Pochteca Event Works, +1-310-876-0771, info@pochtecaeventworks.net; or Kristin Faulstich of R&R Partners, +1-702-318-4203, kfaulstich@rrpartners.com, for The Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority

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