Arts, Crafts of 10 Nations to Be Put in the Spotlight at California Latino Fair

PICO RIVERA — The first California Latino Fair opens Friday at the Pico Rivera Sports Arena, featuring the music, culture, art and history of 10 Latin countries in addition to ethnic food and a carnival midway.

The International Latin Culture Center, a 100-foot pavilion, will house displays, including arts and crafts, films and displays about such areas as industry, education, sports and entertainment, from Argentina, Brazil, Columbia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Peru and Spain.

The charro , the popular Mexican rodeo sport, will hold its competition at the fair. A charros arena has been built especially for the event.

Also, several boxing exhibitions featuring Olympic gold medalist Paul Gonzales and area youth boxing clubs will be held.

National and local Latino entertainers will perform nightly at the arena’s 6,500-seat stadium, and the four-acre amusement park area will feature 25 rides and 18 game concessions.

Proceeds from the fair are to benefit Latino organizations such as El Proyecto del Barrio and the National Hispanic Fund. About 300,000 people are expected to attend the fair, which runs through July 19. The arena is at 3400 S. San Gabriel River Parkway, at the intersection of Interstate 605 and California 60.

Here is the schedule of events:

Friday, July 10:

International Artisan Pavilion:

11 a.m.--Crochet-making by Grace Juarez

Noon--Huarachi-making by Jose Aquero, watercolor painter Maria Huerta, wood carver Joe Diaz

1 p.m.--Straw painter Jose Fernandez, weaver Hiine Palomino, stained-glass maker Victor Rodarte.

2 p.m.-- Papel picado maker Olga Ferginson

3 p.m.--Mask-maker Martha Garcia, Aztec beads and feather work by Lazaro Arvizu

4 p.m.--Mask-maker Alfredo Calderon, glass-blowing by Abel Romo

6 p.m.--Silver engraver Ruben Delgado

All day: Saddle-maker Alfredo Ayala, painter Conrado Solis.

International Latin Culture Stage:

6 p.m.--Emilio Zapata, Alicia De Chihuahua, Daniel Avelar

7 p.m.--Aztec Dancers de Mexico

8:30 p.m.--Folklorico Cuicacalli

Sports Arena Stage:

7:30 p.m.--Lisa Lopez with Luis Angel

Saturday, July 11:

International Artisan Pavilion:

11 a.m.--Crochet-maker Grace Juarez, silver engraver Ruben Delgado, mask-maker Martha Garcia, miniatures by Bertha Hernandez.

Noon--Water colors by Marie Huerta, wood carver Joe Diaz, huarachis maker Jose Aquero, crochet by Grace Juarez, mask-maker Alfredo Calderon.

1 p.m.--Straw painter Jose Fernandez, papel picado maker Olga Ferginson, weaver Hilne Palomino, stained-glass maker Victor Rodarte.

All day--Glass blower Abel Romo, painter Conrado Solis, saddle maker Alfredo Ayala.

International Latin Culture Stage:

2 p.m.--Ballet Argentina Dancers

3:30 p.m.--Folklorico Cuicacalli Dancers

7 p.m.--Aztec Dancers of Mexico

8:30 p.m.--Voces Latinas de Guatemala

Sports Arena Stage:

3:30 p.m.--Jorge Lopez, Cristina Robledo, Dueto Chamizal, Blanca Ruvio

7:30 p.m.--Lola Beltran

Charros Sports Arena: Day One Competition

1 p.m.--Altena de California of Encinitas

Sunday, July 12:

International Artisan Pavilion:

11 a.m.--Mask-maker Martha Garcia, miniatures by Bertha Hernandez.

Noon--Crochet by Grace Juarez, mask-maker Alfredo Calderon, wood carver Joe Diaz

1 p.m.--Straw painter Jose Fernandez, stained-glass maker Victor Rodarte, Aztec bead and feather work by Lazaro Arvizu, papel picado maker Olga Ferginson, weaver Hiine Palomino.

All day--Silver engraver Ruben Delgado, saddle maker Alfredo Ayala, water colors by Maria Huerta.

International Latin Culture Stage:

2 p.m.--Ballet Argentina Dancers

3:30 p.m.--Folklorico Cuicacalli Dancers

7 p.m.--Aztec Dancers of Mexico 8:30 p.m.--Voces Latinas de Guatemala

Sports Arena Stage:

3:30 p.m.--Miguel Zepeda, Linda Lopez, Fernando Ortegon

Charros Sports Arena: Day Two Competition

1 p.m.--Caporales de Soledad, Zacatecana de Charros

Monday, July 13:

International Artisan Pavilion:

11 a.m.--Crochet by Grace Juarez, silver engraver Ruben Delgado

Noon--Water colors by Maria Huerta, painter Conrado Solis

1 p.m.-- Papel picado maker Olga Ferginson, Aztec bead and feather work by Lazaro Arvizu, weaver Hiine Palomino, wood carver Joe Diaz, straw painter Jose Fernandez.

2 p.m.--Miniatures by Bertha Huerta

3 p.m.--Mask-makers Alfredo Calderon and Martha Garcia

4 p.m.--Stained-glass maker Victor Rodarte, glass blowing by Abel Romo, huarachis by Jose Aquero.

International Latin Culture Stage:

6 p.m.--Kushi Dancers of Peru

8:30 p.m.--Pedro Carbajal Dancers of Spain

Sports Arena Stage:

8 p.m.--Alberto Padilla, Sandra Romo, Manuel Chico

Charros Sports Arena: Day Three Competition

5 p.m.--Charros of Escondido California, Regional de California

Tuesday, July 14:

International Artisan Pavilion:

11 a.m.--Mask-maker Alfredo Calderon, crochet by Grace Juarez, miniatures by Bertha Hernandez.

Noon--Water colors by Maria Huerta

1 p.m.--Aztec bead and feather work by Lazaro Arvizu, straw painting by Jose Fernandez, papel picado maker Olga Ferginson

3 p.m.--Mask-maker Martha Garcia

4 p.m.-- Huarachi maker Jose Aquero, glass blowing by Abel Romo

All day: Silver engraver Ruben Delgado, wood carver Joe Diaz, painter Conrado Solis

International Latin Culture Stage:

6 p.m.--Kushi Dancers of Peru

8:30 p.m.--Pedro Carbajal Dancers of Spain

Sports Arena Stage:

8 p.m.--Aurelio Carrillo, Maria Susana, Ramon Ruvalcava

Charros Sports Arena: Day Four Competition

5 p.m.--Tapatia de California, Charros Unidos de California

Wednesday, July 15:

International Artisan Pavilion:

11 a.m.--Crochet by Grace Juarez

Noon-- Huarachi maker Jose Aquero, papel picado maker Olga Ferginson, water colors by Marie Huerta

1 p.m.--Aztec bead and feather work by Lazaro Arvizu, wood craver Joe Diaz, straw painter Jose Fernandez, weaver Hiine Palomino

3 p.m.--Mask-makers Martha Garcia and Alfredo Calderon

4 p.m.--Stained glass by Victor Rodarte, glass blowing by Abel Romo

5 p.m.--Miniatures by Bertha Hernandez

International Latin Culture Stage:

6 p.m.--Kushi Dancers of Peru

8:30 p.m.--Pedro Carbajal Dancers of Spain

Sports Arena Stage:

8 p.m.--Mario Cruz, Lydia y Maria Luisa, Pepe Sanchez

Charros Sports Arena: Day Five Competition 5 p.m.--Charros de Coachella, Charros de Los Angeles

Thursday, July 16:

International Artisan Pavilion:

11 a.m.--Crochet by Grace Juarez

Noon--Water colors by Maria Huerta

1 p.m.--Weaver Hiine Palomino, papel picado maker Olga Ferginson, straw painter Jose Fernandez, Aztec bead and feather work by Lazaro Arvizu

3 p.m.--Mask-makers Alfredo Calderon and Martha Garcia

4 p.m.-- Huarachi maker Jose Aquero, stained-glass maker Victor Rodarte, glass blowing by Abel Ramo

International Latin Culture Stage:

6 p.m.--Kushi Dancers of Peru

8:30 p.m.--Pedro Carbajal Dancers of Spain

Sports Arena Stage:

8 p.m.--Isidro Ortiz, Carmen Cabrera, Lepe Galarza, Dueto Bentura

Charros Sports Arena: Day Six Competition

5 p.m.--El Herradero de Phoenix, Jose Maria Avalos Charros

Friday, July 17:

International Artisan Pavilion:

11 a.m.--Crochet by Grace Juarez

Noon--Water colors by Maria Huerta, mask-maker Alfredo Calderon

1 p.m.--Straw painter Jose Fernandez, weaver Hiine Palomino, stained glass by Victor Rodarte, papel picado maker Olga Ferginson

3 p.m.--Mask-maker Martha Garcia, Aztec bead and feather work by Lazaro Arvizu

4 p.m.-- Huarachi maker Jose Aquero, glass blowing by Abel Ramo.

International Latin Culture Stage:

6 p.m.--Kushi Dancers of Peru

8:30 p.m.--Pedro Carbajal Dancers of Spain

Sports Arena Stage:

8 p.m.--Angel Estrella, Caty Del Sol, Santiago Castaneda

Charros Sports Arena: Day Seven Competition

5 p.m.--First Place Semifinals, Third Place Semifinals

Saturday, July 18:

International Artisan Pavilion:

11 a.m.--Mask-maker Martha Garcia, miniatures by Bertha Hernandez

Noon-- Huarachi maker Jose Aquero, papel picado maker Olga Ferginson, crochet by Grace Juarez, mask-maker Alfredo Calderon, wood carver Joe Diaz

1 p.m.--Straw painter Joe Fernandez, weaver Hiine Palomino, stained glass by Victor Rodarte

2 p.m.--Aztec bead and feather work, Lazaro Arvizu

International Latin Culture Stage:

2 p.m.--Ballet Argentina Dancers

3:30 p.m.--Folklorico Cuicacalli Flamenco Dancers

7 p.m.--Aztec Dancers of Mexico

8:30 p.m.--Voces Latinas de Guatemala

Sports Arena Stage:

3:30 p.m.--Juanito Lara, Marleen, Javier del Valle

Charros Sports Arena: Day Eight Competition

1 p.m.--Second Place Semifinals, Fourth Place Semifinals

Sunday, July 19:

International Artisan Pavilion:

11 a.m.--Aztec bead and feather work by Lazaro Arvizu, miniatures by Bertha Hernandez, mask-maker Martha Garcia

Noon-- Papel picado maker Olga Ferginson, mask-maker Alfredo Calderon, wood carver Joe Diaz, huarachi maker Jose Aquero, straw painter Jose Fernandez, weaver Hiine Palomino, stained-glass maker Victor Rodarte, crochet by Grace Juarez

International Latin Culture Stage:

2 p.m.--Aztec Dancers of Mexico

3:30 p.m.--Folklorico Cuicacalli Flamenco Dancers

7 p.m.--Ballet Argentina Dancers

8:30 p.m.--Voces Latinas de Guatemala

Sports Arena Stage:

3:30 p.m.--Dueto Los Gavilancillos, La India Guaree Maria, Angel Najera, Alba Letty

Charros Sports Arena:

1 p.m.--Finals