Las Vegas Ready to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Tovin Lapan - Las Vegas Sun
go to original September 8, 2012

Luis Miguel performs at The Colosseum in Caesars Palace on Sept. 15, 2010.(Erik Kabik/Retna/ErikKabik.com)

National Hispanic Heritage Month is nearly here (Sept. 15 to Oct. 15), and with a schedule of events front-loaded around the first weekend, fiesta-minded Las Vegans and visitors should plan accordingly.

The majority of Hispanics living in the valley are from Mexico, but there are sizable populations from other Latin American countries, particularly Puerto Rico and Cuba. Mexican Independence Day is Sept. 16, but several other Latin American countries celebrate their independence around that date.

Brazil’s independence day is Sept. 7; Chile’s is Sept. 18; and Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador and Costa Rica all celebrate shedding the yoke of Spanish colonialism on Sept. 15.

Latino Parade and Festival

To get a little sample of the culture and traditions from many Latin American countries, head to the free Fiesta Las Vegas Latino Parade and Festival on Sept. 15 downtown. The parade begins at 10 a.m. The festival, on Third and Ogden streets, runs from 12:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Oct. 13, Henderson will mark Hispanic Heritage Month with its annual Hispanic International Day Parade, which dates to 2000.

Two fights are better than one

Las Vegas will play host to two boxing matches over the weekend that feature prominent Hispanic fighters.

The WBC super welterweight belt will be on the line Sept. 15 when undefeated Mexican boxer Canelo Alvarez faces off with Josesito Lopez at MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Also on Sept. 15, current WBC middleweight champion Julio Caesar Chavez Jr. will step into the ring with Argentinean boxer Sergio Gabriel Martínez, a former WBC and WBO middleweight champion, at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Concerts

For those who love Latin American music, it may be difficult to choose which concerts to attend this week.

Mexican singer Luis Miguel comes to the Colosseum at Caesars Palace for a three-night stint Sept. 13-15.

Flamenco guitarist Esteban performs Sept. 13 at the Smith Center for the Performing Arts.

Grammy-winning Mexican Latin jazz and salsa artist Poncho Sanchez brings his band to the Smith Center’s Cabaret Jazz Theater on Sept. 14 and 15.

Cuban jazz trumpeter Arturo Sandoval will perform Sept. 15-16 at the Orleans.

Flamenco guitarist and actress Charo will perform Sept. 15 at South Point.

Grammy-award winners and Mexican pop-rock legends Maná will take the stage Sept. 16 at MGM Grand Garden Arena.

The GIGANT3S national tour is also coming to town to kick off the weekend. The tour — featuring Marc Anthony, Chayanne and Marco Antonio Solis — hits the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Sept. 14.

The next night, the Mandalay Bay Events Center plays host to Mexico’s pop and ranchera star, Alejandro Fernández.

Mariachi Festival

Hundreds of world-renowned mariachi performers will fill the Planet Hollywood performing arts theater with the sounds of trumpets, guitars and violins Sept. 15.

The Las Vegas International Mariachi Festival is entering its third decade, and the showcase includes Shaila Durcal, Vargas de Tecalitlan, the ensemble Mariachi Sol de Mexico de Jose Hernandez and Mariachi Divas.

Y mas ...

Rounding out the calendar are comedians, models and DJs.

Comedian Carlos Mencia, who was born in Honduras, performs Sept. 14 at Treasure Island.

Mexican DJ Fernando Garibay will perform a set at Aria’s Haze Nightclub on Sept 14.

Jessica Burciaga, an American model and former Playboy Playmate of the Month, whose father is Mexican, will headline a Mexican Independence Day party Sept. 15 at strip club Crazy Horse III and Posh Boutique Nightclub.

The Cosmopolitan offers various events during the holiday weekend, including Mariachi el Bronx at Book and Stage on Sept 14, 15 and 16.

Throughout the weekend, mariachi performers and folkloric dancers will roam the venue providing entertainment. The Chandelier bar will start offering Mexico-inspired drink specials at 10 p.m. Sept. 15; at 11 p.m., there will be a “Grito,” the Mexican “cry for independence” and bell ringing that traditionally marks the occasion. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 16, the Cosmopolitan will have a Mexican “street fair” in its East Tower.

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