by Gail Dee
CHICAGO’S COLOMBIAN FEST AL PARQUE moves to Kelyvn Park (4438 W. Wrightwood) for 2017 with a blockbuster lineup of music. New this year, Carnival attractions including rides, games and a Kid’s zone to guarantee family fun! Sizzling music with green space on a summer weekend for only $10 -kids under 12 with an adult are free. The festival is definitely a We Want Music Without Borders DON’T MISS for the summer!
For a small country the variety of music from Colombia continues to astound me. It’s Salsa; it’s Afro Colombian with drums and groove; it’s Cumbia; Vallenato with accordions; it’s pop with smooth sexy crooners; it’s hip hop combined with afrobeat. What it’s NOT is mundane–this is truly a musical experience for everyone. AND dance!
The music lineup begins Saturday July 15 through Sunday July 16 from noon to 10 pm. On Friday night July 14 the Fest will host a festive family night to open the Carnival Experience for area residents and Chicago Summer Camp programs with rides and games and other amusements. A portion of proceeds benefits community partners.
Festival director and founder Jorge L. Ortega, a Chicagoan who was born in Barranquilla, Colombia, says “The festival offers a great opportunity to enjoy or perhaps even discover the rich musical and cultural heritage of a great Latin American nation.” Ortega continues, “From the Pacific coast to the interior plains and mountains to the shores of the Caribbean, Colombia has a huge diversity of cultures made up of mixtures of Spanish, African and indigenous peoples. The music at the festival will represent both folkloric traditions and the newest sounds of the region.” I’ll add the Ortega Brothers are also LD Audio. They’ve provided sound equipment to many big acts for several years -they know how to put on a show.
Headlining artists include a true giant of Colombian music, Totó La Momposina. The Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award Winner is considered the “Grande Dame of Cumbia, Bullerengue and Colombian Folklore.” Also headlining is Checo Acosta, “The Prince of Carnival”, who will bring a piece of Barranquilla to Chicago with his full show band including a Chicago tribute to 2017 Barranquilla Carnival winners Congo Grande complete with costumes and folkloric dancers. Also appearing is La Cumbiamba A Son De Millo, a 30 piece dance troupe from Barranquilla plus much, much more.
Have fun touching the interactive icons in the picture below for links to music and other information. Tickets for the Festival at http://www.colombianfestchicago.com
wewantmusicwithoutborders 
Pingback: Black, Brown and White Get Down in July Chicago | wewantmusicwithoutborders