Laredo Celebrates 10th Annual Sister Cities Festival
Written by admin, Jul 12, 2012, 0 Comments
Courtesy Xochitl Mora,
46 Cities,13 Mexican States represented within 190 booths
Laredo, Tx – Final details and preparations are on-going for the 10th anniversary edition of the Laredo International Sister Cities Festival (LISCF) slated for July 20-22, 2012 at the Laredo Energy Arena (LEA). Mexico will be well represented with the 46 cities and 13 states that set-up over the three-day event period on the floor and concourse of the arena.
“The event attracted more than 14,000 attendees last year over the 3 days; we are really looking to set a new attendance record and make it 18,000 or more,” stated an enthusiastic Mayor Raul G. Salinas. “I invite everyone in the community and across south Texas to come share in this family-oriented, free event, open to anyone who wants to share in this friendly atmosphere full of visiting exhibitors’ wares and cultural offerings from all over Mexico, and you may just want to take a little bit of it home with you.”
New to the event this year is an expanded line up of stage performances and first-time sponsors. Laredo Community College (LCC) is a platinum-level sponsor of the festival and is preparing for their showing at the arena as well. They will have an exhibit booth and exclusive opportunities throughout the event to conduct outreach with the exhibitors, as well as the attendees.
Stage performances this year include entertainment from visiting vocalists and the ballet folklorico from San Miguel el Alto, Jalisco, Mexico, to local performances by several dance presentations by the Texas A&M International University Fine and Performing Arts students and to close out the three-day event, Sunday’s performances will include Laredo’s home-grown talent with some of the best and quirkiest groups on stage throughout the afternoon.
For the second consecutive year, the event will be the host location of the Spurs Fan Experience and Caravan, appearing only on Saturday, July 21, 2012 between 2:00-5:00 p.m.
It will consist of the Spurs’ four NBA championship trophies, members of the Silver Dancers team, the possibility of one VIP guest or member of the coaching staff, a special static display trailer outside the main entrance to the Laredo Energy Arena along with inflatable interactive components.
“People who may not have considered coming to the Laredo Energy Arena for our traditional and wonderful Mexican offerings of food, jewelry, clothing, furniture and other goods, might just make the trip to catch a glimpse of any one of the Spur’s championship trophies, or get a photo with one of the Spurs Silver Dancers. I think that once they are at the festival, they will want to stay and experience everything there is to offer at the event,” stated Blasita J. Lopez, Director of the Laredo Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The hours of operation for this 10th anniversary event are:
- Friday, July 20: Opening Ceremony @ 9:00 a.m.; Expo: 10:00 – 7:00 p.m.
- Saturday, July 21: Expo 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
- Sunday, July 22: Expo 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
It kicks-off with a splendid bilingual opening ceremony at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, July 20. The LEA is transformed over the three-day event to hold such exotic items as beautiful artisan produced and hand crafted furniture, jewelry and clothing. Carne seca, tortillas, and candy are a few of the items that one can sample, along with products for sale such as silk rebozos, linen gowns, leather goods, wool sarapes and a variety of other clothes and accessories grace some of the hundreds of exhibits set up on the arena floor and concourse.
Recognizing the importance of the Festival and the opportunity for exposure in the U.S. market, many Sister Cities have always attended in full regalia and bring in delegations that include the exhibitors and their government leaders, this year from: Aguascalientes, Coahuila, Estado de Mexico, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Michoacán, Morelos, Nayarit, Nuevo Leon, Oaxaca, Puebla, San Luis Potosi, and Tamaulipas.
Other gobernadores, presidentes municipales and members of city councils come in representing their cities and intending to sign a Sister City agreement, this year taking place during the exhibitors’ activities after the close of the event on Saturday night. This year the City of Laredo will be signing its first Sister City agreement within Central America, La Cruz de Buena Casta, Costa Rica. The Festival has been known as the premier venue for signing such agreements in the past.
