Celebrating Latin American culture and food

THE annual Latin American ­Festival returns with its sixth edition to be held at bbpark at Jalan Bukit ­Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, on May 18, from noon to 7pm.
Visitors will once again get to experience culture and food from 10 Latin American countries, namely Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.
The event is a joint ­collaboration between the 10 Latin America ­embassies in Malaysia with Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL), Plaza Low Yat, the Federal Hotels International (FHI) and FHI Group of Hotels – namely the ­Federal Kuala Lumpur and Capitol Hotel.
It will be held at the bbpark for the fourth consecutive year.
“Last year’s festival was held only at bbpark but this year, thanks to the Datuk Bandar, we have a bigger space to celebrate,” said Michael Lee, the general manager of Plaza Low Yat.
He said DBKL had ­extended the event space from the bbpark to the alley between bbpark and Federal Hotel at Jalan Bukit Bintang, where Plaza Low Yat ­boulevard is ­located.
DBKL will also be sponsoring the stage, sound system, lights and tents.
Manuel Guzman, the Venezuelan ambassador and dean of the Latin American and Caribbean countries group, said he was excited to bring the Latin American culture to ­Malaysians again.
Organised annually to support elected Malaysian charity ­organisations, all proceeds of the festival this year will be donated to OrphanCare, a home for orphans as well as Hospis Malaysia, an ­organisation offering professional palliative care to terminally-ill ­patients.
The carnival-like street party will not only feature cultural Latin American traditional music and dance performances but also ­its cuisines, handmade arts and crafts, and games as well.
As seven of the ­participating countries will be ­competing for the World Cup in June, the festival will also be decked out in World Cup colours.
There will also be lucky draws with prizes such as cameras, mobile phones, complimentary meal and stay vouchers at participating ­restaurants and hotels to raise funds for charity.
The prize also include a return trip to any destination in Latin America.