Annual Tri-City Latino Festival returns to downtown Columbus on Saturday
International artists scheduled to perform
By ALVA JAMES-JOHNSON
ajjohnson@ledger-enquirer.com
Chris Markwood, the new president of Columbus State University, will dance the "Macarena" at the Third Annual Tri-City Latino Festival on Saturday.
Tom Hackett, the university's provost and vice president for academic affairs, said he could reveal that little secret because he'll be right there dancing with him.
Hackett made his comments Thursday during a news conference at the Columbus Civic Center where officials and the community gathered to promote the festival. The festival, which will be held from noon to 11 p.m. Saturday at the Civic Center, is organized by the Tri-City Latino Festival Familia and co-sponsored by the city of Columbus, Phenix City and Fort Benning.
Activities will include cultural dances and dresses, international performing artists, tennis classes, a medical van with free examinations, food vendors, arts and crafts, a beauty queen contest and a kids zone. There is no cost for admission.
Iris Marrero-Tuff, a member of the festival planning committee, said the event brings the community to
gether and continues to grow every year.
"Since 2013, the common elements for the Tri-City Latino Festival have been lively music, dancing in the streets, arts and crafts, Latin-American cuisine and community information tents," she said. "The Tri-City Festival has experienced substantial growth in the number of performing artists, vendors, participating community groups and audience."
Other speakers at the news conference included Mayor Teresa Tomlinson and Columbus Councilor Evelyn "Mimi" Woodson, who also serves as honorary vice chairwoman of the event.
Tomlinson described Columbus as a community that embraces diversity and invited everyone to attend.
"One of the reasons why we do diversity very well is because we understand that we're on a journey, that we're not there yet," she said. "And we also do celebrate and revel in our differences."
Hackett said he and Markwood would dance on the stage at noon, hoping for dry weather.
"Three years ago, (former CSU President) Tim Mescon and I were here for the first Tri-City Latino Festival and we were coming out here to dance," he said. "We did not realize we would be dancing in the rain in one of the biggest storms that Columbus has seen in some time. But that rain did not dampen the spirit of the Tri-City Latino Festival Familia and it didn't dampen our spirit as a sponsor.
"Not only does it bring the entire community together in celebration," he added, "but this year I understand it's attracting eight major international artists from all over the world to Columbus, Georgia. That focuses a tremendous amount of attention on this great community."
Performers for the event include Toby Love, Frankie Ruiz Jr., El Rey Tulile, Kali, King Black, Fino Boyz, Juventud Calentana, DJ Alde, DJ Anthony and DJ Julion, according to organizers.
For more information about the festival, go to www.trifestival.com.
Alva James-Johnson, 706-571-8521. Reach her on Facebook at AlvaJamesJohnsonLedger.
This story was originally published September 11, 2015 at 12:11 AM with the headline "Annual Tri-City Latino Festival returns to downtown Columbus on Saturday ."