At the Peabody: free celebration of Latin American cultures
The Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, in conjunction with Junta for Progressive Action, Inc., will host ¡Fiesta Latina!, its 144h annual celebration of Latin American cultures, on Saturday, Oct. 8, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
The Great Hall of Dinosaurs is the stage for music and dance performances throughout the day. At 11 a.m., the students of Mariachi Academy of Connecticut will perform traditional Mariachi song and dance. At noon, X Dance Group will entertain with merengue, salsa and bachata music. At 12:40 p.m., Ballet Folklorico Mexicano de Yale will perform traditional folk dances from several regions of Mexico. At 1 p.m., African Arawak Connection will present Taino and Caribbean music followed by Baila Peru at 1:45 p.m. At 2:30 p.m., Ray Gonzalez and his Latin Jazz Quintet will perform.
Specimens and artifacts from Latin America and around the world will be on display, and visitors will have the opportunity to meet an archaeologist. Live creatures found in Latin America will also be on hand. “Fur, Feathers & Beyond” will feature live birds from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and “Curious Creatures” will showcase live animals from noon to 3 p.m.
Latin American games and craft activities will be offered for children as well as face painting and a mineral dig. One activity involves coloring a maraca with the Yale Latino Networking Group. Another involves decorating a Latin American bird with the Girl Scouts of Connecticut. Numerous organizations will host additional activities and awareness booths throughout the day. These include the Consulate of Ecuador in Connecticut, Junta for Progressive Action Inc., International Festival of Arts & Ideas, New Haven Community Hiring Initiatives, Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, State of CT DEEP/Kellogg Environmental Center, UNIVISION, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Yale Center for Clinical Investigation.
A complete schedule of activities can be found on the event website.
Fiesta Latina is sponsored UNIVISION, UNIMAS Hartford, and Yale Latino Networking Group.
The Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History is located at 170 Whitney Ave. in New Haven. For information on hours and admission, visit the museum’s website.
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