Mexican Fiesta Heats Up Milwaukee Summer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Mexican Fiesta Heats Up Milwaukee Summer
Enjoy Food, Drinks, Dances and Games celebrating Mexican Culture

MILWAUKEE - Aug. 19, 2010 - Celebrate Mexican culture with salsa dancing, jalapeños, Pok-Ta-Pok and more at Mexican Fiesta in Milwaukee. Since 1977, Mexican Fiesta has added south of the border flavor to Milwaukee's lakefront.

"Milwaukee celebrates its heritage with major ethnic festivals almost every weekend in summer," said VISIT Milwaukee President and CEO, Paul Upchurch. "It's an easy weekend trip to sample the cultures of the world with traditional food, music, dances, art and celebrations."

New for this year's festival is the Mayan game, Pok-Ta-Pok. The ancient ball game is performed by tribes throughout Mexico as a ceremonial gathering or to settle a dispute. Players use their hips, knees and arms to keep the ball in the air and, in some forms of the game, get it through a circular goal.

Mexican Fiesta offers contests that everyone can enjoy. A salsarengue contest is held on Friday for dancers to show off their best merengue and salsa rhythms. Saturday features Mexican Fiesta's annual dance contest, with the opportunity to experience traditional dances from around the country. Also on Saturday is the grito competition, where contestants get a chance to roar a shout heard throughout the world. Festivities continue Sunday with a traditional costume contest and the Omega Jalapeño Eating Contest.

Festival-goers also get a chance to discover the unique blue agave in the tequila expo. The exhibit is open all weekend to display the rich history and legends behind the drink that made Mexico famous.

The festival runs Friday, August 27 through Sunday, August 29 at Henry W. Maier Festival Park. For details regarding admission, hours and attractions, visit the Mexican Fiesta website at www.mexicanfiesta.org

VISIT Milwaukee markets Greater Milwaukee to tourists, convention and meeting planners nationally and internationally and is dedicated to ensuring our guests are warmly welcomed and enjoy an enriching experience in this jewel of the Great Lakes. VISIT Milwaukee has more than 600 members, including hotels/motels, restaurants, attractions, services and area businesses. Tourism generated $2.3 billion in spending in Greater Milwaukee in 2009 and supported about 58,000 local jobs. The City of Wauwatosa, Frontier Airlines, Potawatomi Bingo Casino and the Wisconsin Center District are strategic partners with VISIT Milwaukee, providing funding support for conventions and tourism programs. For more information call 1-800-554-1448 or visit www.visitmilwaukee.org.

Dave Fantle, VP of Public Relations
414.287.4253
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Jeannine Sherman, Public Relations Manager
414.287.6230
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