Festival opens on independence day for Mexico.

Byline: Mark Baker The Register-Guard

Sure, you can find salsa dancing in Eugene or Springfield just about any weekend of the year. But mid-September is the only time during the Earth's 365-day journey around the sun that the dancing comes complete with an authentic Latin American street fes- tival.

For the second consecutive year, the two-day Fiesta Latina will not be held on or near Cinco de Mayo or even in Eugene - it's today and Saturday at Island Park in Springfield.

This year's party, the 14th renewal of the event, celebrates the 400th anniversary of "Don Quixote," the famous novel by Miguel de Cervantes, first published in 1605.

` `Don Quijote de La Mancha' is probably the most important piece of literature to Hispanics, so we're very happy to have him," says Rebecca Urhausen, the fiesta chairwo- man.

Urhausen is not only talking about having Don Quixote at this year's festival, but also Fernando Redondo Benito, the president of the UNESCO center for Castilla-La Mancha, the central region in Spain where Cervantes' novel was set.

UNESCO is the United Nation's Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

Today is Mexican independence day, and Thursday was independence day in five other Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.

Problems with bad weather in early May prompted event organizers to move the date to mid-September last year, when the Eugene Celebration typically has taken place, Urhausen says.

But when the Eugene Celebration moved to later in September last year and to the end of the month this year, Fiesta Latina decided to stick with the seasonal change.

Now, all there is to worry about is conflicts with Univer- sity of Oregon football, Urhausen says, half-jokingly.

The Ducks play Fresno State at Autzen Stadium on Saturday, with the 4 p.m. kickoff set right in the middle of Fiesta Latina's event schedule.

"I hope the Duck fans will bring their children before the game," Urhausen says.

Of course, the game is being televised on TBS.

"Maybe we should have a (television) screen there," Urhausen says, again, somewhat in jest.

Culture celebrating culture

But watching television, even if it is the Ducks, is not what Fiesta Latina is all about.

It's about bringing the community together. And not just Lane County's growing Hispa- nic community, but also people of all races, religions and socioeconomic classes, Urhausen says.

The fiesta is a family event sponsored by the Adelante Si Hispanic Organization of Lane County. And it will be alcohol-free once again this year.

As usual, there will be a heavy emphasis on artwork. The concurrent exhibit at the Emerald Art Center, 500 Main St., will include artwork from Mexico as well as pieces by Cecilio Venegas of Guanajuato, Mexico.

There also will be the Fiesta Art Gallery that will house a traveling exhibit of Latin cultures from the Oregon Historical Society. Work by regional and international artists, including Maria Elena of Cottage Grove, will be featured, as well as paintings of Don Quixote by Mexican artist Francisco Alba Alvarez.

As for the entertainment, this year's program also will focus on artists that are native to Mexico and now live mostly in the Los Angeles area.

"I decided that I wanted to have a completely fresh program - something new," Urhausen says. The headliner is JC y su Banda Duranguense, a popular group from Los Angeles that plays at 10:15 p.m. Saturday.

Rio Rebelde, who also hail from the Los Angeles area, opens the fiesta at 6 p.m. Friday with Nortena music, followed by charismatic Mexican singer Juan Miguel at 6:30 p.m. Jose Cruz and His Salseros follow at 7:45 p.m., and they will kick off the semifinals of the popular salsa dance contest.

Later in the evening, Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy and Springfield Mayor Sid Leiken will be on hand to help celebrate El Grito, a ceremony that recognizes Mexico's 1810 independence from Spain.

And here's a first. At 9:30 p.m. today, the fiesta's first-ever fireworks display, sponsored by Eugene's Arlie & Company, sets the stage for the evening's final act, Autoridad de la Sierra, another Mexican band.

Latin cuisine featured as well

Saturday's entertainment begins with new singer Noel of Portland at noon, followed by Caballero Musical of Salem at 1 p.m. Monica & Erubey with Ballet Folklorico Infantil, a group of young dancers from Eugene, comes on at 2:45 p.m.

La Trampa of Salem appears at 3:30 p.m., and Sonora Dinamita plays at 5:30 p.m.

Then it's on to the salsa dance finals at 7:15 p.m., followed by the Nortena music of Leopardo Salvaje at 8:30 p.m., with JC y su Banda Duranguense wrapping up the party at 10:15 p.m.

As always, families will be cooking and selling their best dishes of authentic Latin American cuisine in La Cocina.

And for the kids, the Eugene Active 20/30 Club will once again provide 100 pinatas that will take their licks beginning at noon Saturday. The bashing won't stop until all of them are broken.

"If you're talking about cultural events, this is it," Urhausen says. "It's fun, the music is amazing and the hospitality is great."

Reach Mark Baker at 338-2374 or [e-mail].

FESTIVAL PREVIEW

Fiesta Latina

When: Today starting at 5 p.m. and Saturday starting at 11 a.m.

Where: Island Park, 200 West B St., Springfield

How much: $5 each day; no admission will be charged for children younger than 10

CAPTION(S):

JC y su Banda Duranguense will close down the festival on Saturday with a 10:15 p.m. set.