Cha-Cha Fiesta!
Hey, gringo, you don't have to head south of the border to shake your bon-bon this weekend.
Not when żQue Pasa? , the local Latin fiesta of fun, mambos into the 17th Street Farmers' Market this Saturday.
What does that translate to?
Picture strolling mariachi bands, vendors selling Colombian jewelry, and authentic Latin food galore such as Cuban sandwiches , empanadas and tostadas at the second annual fiesta.
Last year, the fledgling festival was thrown together in six weeks with organizers expecting roughly 5,000 people to attend. But more than 17,000 people moved their moneymakers down to the Farmers' Market to celebrate the first-year fest.
This year, żQue Pasa? has doubled its size and scope because of last year's success.
In fact, if you want to hit all the żQue Pasa? hot spots, your best bet is to start at the Canal's Turning Basin and work your way down the Canal Walk, checking out the wares of local artists selling everything from hand-embroidered Ecuadorian shirts to Andean flutes. Strolling mariachi bands, colorful Latino folk dancers and classical guitar music will be entertaining festival-goers along the way.
At The Farmers' Market, more than 15 local vendors will fill the stalls, serving up all kinds of Latin delicacies such as roasted pork , enchiladas , and, of course, margaritas .
And on the concert stage behind the Farmers' Market, Grammy-nominated Bobby Sanabria and the Quarteto Ache will perform their Afro-Cuban hits, along with music from Grupo Swing Natural and Timbason .
But żQue Pasa? isn't the only festivity you'll find in the River District this weekend.
The Wachovia Securities canalWALK for homelessness steps off from Brown's Island for a two-and-a-half mile walk to help the homeless. The canalWALK is a brand-new event to downtown Richmond to raise awareness about the problem of homelessness, as well as generating awareness about Homeward , a local non-profit organization seeking to help the homeless in Richmond.
Registration for the canalWALK begins on Brown's Island at 8:30 a.m., with walkers stepping off to pound the Canal Walk pavement at 10 a.m.
Plus, there's the free James River Jumble , a four-hour hike along Richmond's waterfront, where "jumblers" will meet at the Manchester Bridge to go on a guided hike and learn about 400 years of Richmond river lore.
And there's even the Arc March that leads walkers from Mayo Island to the steps of the Capitol. Arc, the Association of Retarded Citizens, put together the Arc March to rally for a better system of support for people with mental retardation and developmental disabilities.
Phew. There's a party going on in the River District, people. Now the question is, which one do you want to attend? STREET CLOSINGS 17th Street on the east side from E. Grace Street to E. Main Street and E. Main Street to Dock Street from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
17th Street on the west side from E. Franklin Street to E. Main Street from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
E. Franklin Street closed from Ambler Lane to 18th Street 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
14th Street will be closed from Mayo's Island to Bank Street from 9:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. żQue Pasa?
17th Street Farmers' Market
Saturday, September 20
11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Free
(804) 646-0310 canalWALK for homelessness
Brown's Island
Saturday, September 20
Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., walk begins around 10 a.m.
Call (804) 782-4140 for more information Whole Richmond Riverfront Jumble
Saturday, September 20
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Meet in the parking lot on Semmes Avenue just east of the south end of Manchester Bridge. The Arc March
Saturday, September 20
Mayo Island
10 a.m.
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