This year’s Skagit County Fair’s Latin entertainment stage will host more than 20 performers, from cumbia dancers to a Saturday night performance led by Grammy-nominated Mexican singer and actor El Dasa. Performances start Thursday at 5 p.m., kicking off with DJ Frank.
“When people see their culture expressed, it’s a welcoming feeling,” fairgrounds manager Aric Gaither said.
In its fifth year, the stage will showcase a blend of local and international talent from Thursday, Aug. 8 to Sunday, Aug. 11. Gaither said this is the first time the fair will be open through Sunday, and he expects nearly 30,000 people to attend.
When the fair initially created a Latin performance night in 2011, Gaither described it as “wildly successful,” crediting organizer Adryana Suarez for bringing in a “talented, diverse lineup.”
Skagit County boasts a rich agricultural history, with nearly 90,000 acres of farmland, and the Latino population of almost 20% is the county’s second-largest ethnic group.
The fair is a strong reflection of this demographic, said Ramon Rivera, the director of Mount Vernon High School’s Mariachi and Folklorico program.
Mariachi is a traditional form of music played by an ensemble of musicians, dating back to 18th century Mexico. Over time, the art form evolved throughout the Western regions of the country, where a typical Mariachi band consists of violinists, trumpeters and guitarists, dressed in native attire.
Rivera began his career as a director four years ago and sought out a venue for his students to perform outside of class, volunteering extensively at the Skagit County Fair.
On Saturday afternoon Aug. 10, 30 of his students will take to the stage, divided into two sections: one of Mariachi and one of Folklorico. For the traditional Folklorico dance, students adorn colorfully decorated dresses made in Guadalajara, Mexico.
“Since I’ve gone every year, more of the Latino community comes out, because they feel as if they’re a part of it,” Rivera said. “Just to have a stage with four days of Latino acts … I think that’s so cool that they have this space.”
Other Latin entertainers in the lineup include bands Voz Vibrato and Africa Violeta, Jose Rangel y Su Nueva Alianza and Los Hermanos Gonzalez. Find the full schedule of entertainment here.
The fair is located at 501 Taylor St. (South Gate) in Mount Vernon. Gates open daily at 10 a.m. and close at 10 p.m. Thu-Sat and 8 p.m. on Sunday.
Olivia Capriotti is a Dow Jones summer news intern, specializing in data journalism. Reach her at oliviacapriotti@cascadiadaily.com.
