United to Party

Promoters claim it’s larger than the Rose Bowl, the Long Beach Grand Prix and the L.A. Marathon combined. The fourth annual L.A. Fiesta Broadway street party is expected to draw nearly 1 million visitors today to a 36-block area Downtown.

The festival has historically been billed as the largest Cinco de Mayo celebration in the United States, but this year organizers decided to change the theme to “Unidos por la Paz--Unidos en L.A. Fiesta” (“United for Peace--United at L.A. Fiesta”) to celebrate all of the ethnicities of Los Angeles.

However, the entertainment retains a strong Latino flavor. More than 100 top-name acts from throughout the Latino entertainment world will perform, ranging from mariachi to salsa, from ballads to pop music.

Headlining this year’s show is six-time Grammy winner Jose Feliciano. Other artists include salsa legend Willie Colon, Argentina’s Laureano Brizuela, pop groups Fandango and Garibaldi. Sponsors are KMEX-TV, the city of Los Angeles and Miracle on Broadway.

Broadway will be filled with refreshment stands, games, roving entertainers and amusement rides.

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L.A. Fiesta Broadway, today, noon to 6 p.m. The festival site encompasses Broadway, Hill and Spring streets, from 1st Street to Olympic Boulevard. Free. Information: (310) 348-3584.