Another lively weekend is on the way for ¡VivaFest! 2013. The screening of "Escaramuza: Riding From the Heart" starts things off at 6 p.m. Friday at the Tech Museum of Innovation. Then on Saturday at 7 p.m. we're off on a journey to two countries in one night with "Ireland Meets Mexico in a Musical Tribute to the San Patricio Brigade."

This free music-fusion event, which we're co-presenting with the San Jose-Dublin Sister City Commission at the San Pedro Square Market, commemorates the 150th anniversary of the heroic San Patricio Brigade fighting against the U.S. invasion of Mexico in 1848. Featured performers are O'Craven, the Kavanaugh Brothers and Grupo Mono Blanco.

On Sunday the festivities continue. We celebrate the American dream, Latino-style, by marking El Grito, the historic cry of independence, with a full day and evening of free cultural festivities: music, food and community events!

Whether you're interested in documentary film, colorful traditional dance, mariachi music or simply celebrating with your community on a sunny September weekend, we have something for you!

Saludos,

Marcela

A salute to star equestrians

To help get you in the mood for "Escaramuza," an exciting documentary about a team of first-generation Mexican horsewomen, check out this teaser below. You can also buy the DVD on Amazon.

A teaser for "Escaramuza: Riding from the Heart."

As part of Friday's film event, the local equestrian team Escaramuza Arquetzalli will be on hand to answer questions in an audience Q&A about their fascinating art. (In an earlier newsletter, we mistakenly named them as the team in the documentary. That team is of course Escaramuza Charra Las Azaleas, from Riverside, California.)

Celebrating El Grito

This Sunday, we extend our "hands across the border" in a community celebration of ¡VivaFest!/El Grito, with events starting at 12:30 p.m. and going well into the evening.

Even before the festival, you can start your day at 10 a.m. with a special Mariachi Mass at Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph, at 80 S. Market St. in downtown San José. Then come join us at Discovery Meadow at 180 Woz Way.

Our guest of honor this year is Consul General Carlos Ponce Martinez of the San José Mexican Consulate. He'll lead us in marking Mexico's Independence Day at 9 p.m. We're also thrilled to have several MundoFox celebrities making appearances: Poncho de Anda, Francisco "Paquito" Herrera and Danielito from "El Factor X," and "Minute to Win" host Marco Antonio Regil. 

Poncho de Anda, Francisco "Paquito" Herrera and Marco Antonio Regil.

 Here's our very full schedule for the day. And it's all free!

MUNDOFOX STAGE

12:30-1:00 p.m. Aztec Dance Calpulli Tonalehqueh and Ballet Folklorico Mexico Vive
1:50-2:00 p.m. Ballet Folklorico Santee
2:10-3:10 p.m. Banda Nueva Carrizal
3:20-3:35 p.m. Ballet Folkloricode Elena Robles
3:35-3:40 p.m. Appearance by MundoFox celebrity Poncho de Anda
3:40-3:55 p.m. Emerging mariachi star Danielito from the MundoFox program "El Factor X"
3:55-4:50 p.m. Novillos del Norte
4:50-4:55 p.m. Appearance by MundoFox celebrity Marco Antonio Regil
4:55-5:05 p.m. Banda Toro
6:00-6:10 p.m. Francisco "Paquito" Herrera from the MundoFox program "El Factor X"
6:10-6:30 p.m. Mariachi
6:40-7:40 p.m. Sonora Santanera
7:40-8:40 p.m. Banda El Mexicano
8:40-8:55 p.m. Mono Blanco
8:55-9:10 p.m. Ballet folklorico Los Lupenos de San Jose
9:10 p.m. Re-enactment of "El Grito" for Mexican Independence and Mariachi Azteca

1-1:30 p.m. Sonido Eclipse
1:30-2:30 p.m. Ballet Folklórico de Carlos Moreno
2:45-3:30 p.m. Gigante de Hierro y su Banda
3:45-4:30 p.m. Grupo La Kontienda
4:45-5:30 p.m. Banda Iluminación
5:45-6:10 p.m. Carmen Rios
6:15-6:30 p.m. Melissa y Sebastián
6:45-7:30 p.m. Bandala Mas Chicoteada
7:45-8:45 p.m. Los Dinnos 

Calpulli Tonalehqueh dancers.

Funding for the Mexican Heritage Corporation and its programs such as ¡VivaFest! and Los Lupeños de San José is provided in part through: a grant from the Office of Cultural Affairs of the City of San José, and from The San José Arena Authority, The National Endowment for the Arts, The TomKat Charitable Trust, The Hewlett Foundation, The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, The Union Bank Foundation, Wells Fargo Bank, Mundo Fox, earned revenue from ¡VivaFest! and from readers like YOU. THANK YOU. To learn more about all of our generous donors please visit

www.vivafest.org/sponsors.