WALLA WALLA – There will be lots of salsa at Pioneer Park on Father’s Day, both on the tacos and on the dance floor. This year the Diversity Coalition will host the inaugural salsa dance competition at the annual Diversity Day Multicultural Arts Festival, June 17.
The free competition will be open to all comers at 1 p.m. at the gazebo. First, second and third-place winners will go home with award certificates and prizes. Even beginners are welcome, as a short lesson will be offered before the competition.
If you’d rather engage your brain, instead of your feet, the sixth annual Geography Bee will begin at 4:30 p.m., after the Mexican songs. The Bee winner will also get a prize. (Due to lack of participants, there will be no chess tournament this year, though chess-lovers are welcome to play on their own during the festival.)
In its 19th year, the free festival will take place in Pioneer Park (Alder & Division streets) in Walla Walla. The Haka Dance Group and the Frenchtown Dance Troupe will join the great line-up that highlights the different cultures found in the Walla Walla Valley.
The festival is on, rain or shine.
The entertainment schedule (which is subject to change) includes:
11:00 Country Folk—Rich &
Nancy Monacelli
11:30 Zumba—Caite York & Friends
12:00 Opening Ceremonies—Mayor
The Song of Peace—Everyone
12:15 Scottish Bagpiper—Daniel Winn
12:30 Haka Dance Group—New Zealand
Lion Dance—Felix Tan & Family
Swing Dancing—Walla Walla Bing
Bang Swing Dance Gang
1:00 Salsa Dance Competition
1:30 Middle Eastern Dance – Troupe Azure
2:00 Steel Drum Band – Noel Jabagat
& Friends
2:30 Islamic Cultural Presentation—
Islamic Center of the Tri-Cities
3:00 Mexican Dances—Estrellas de Mexico
3:30 Music & Dance from India –
India Association of the Tri-Cities
4:00 Mexican Songs —Salvador Hernandez
& the Angulo Sisters