Latin Fall Festival to Offer Music, Dancing

The Ritchie Valens Recreation Center will host a free “Latin Fall Festival” Saturday featuring dancing and music from Central and South America.

“There will be four dance groups from different countries and then Ernie Valens and his rock band will wrap up the evening in the style of his cousin, Ritchie Valens,” said recreation director Chuck Chavoor.

Scheduled to perform at the festival are the ballet folklorico groups Bolivia Andina from Bolivia, Asosal from El Salvador, Inti International from Peru and Las Catrachas from Honduras.

The recreation center is named for Pacoima-born rock star and cultural icon Ritchie Valens who died in a plane crash in 1959 at the age of 17. In addition to its sports and recreation programs, Chavoor said, the center strives to provide a variety of free cultural events to residents of Pacoima and nearby communities.

“It’s amazing, Ritchie Valens is still alive all over the world,” Chavoor said. “We use the name as a draw and try to build on that.”

The fall festival, sponsored by the Department of Recreation and Parks and the Ritchie Valens Youth Foundation, will begin at 8 p.m. at the recreation center, 10736 Laurel Canyon Blvd., Pacoima.

For more information, call (818) 834-5172.