The City of Allentown Department of Parks and Recreation’s Noches de Ritmo event will take place on Saturday, May 6 from 1:00pm – 7:00pm at West Park, located between 15th & 16th streets along Linden and Turner streets. The program is presented in partnership with the Puertorrican Culture Preservation Organization.

Saturday evening’s Noches de Ritmo will host a variety of styles of music, featuring Alex el Bizcochito as the headlining act. Alex is a bachata singer from Florida, born in Ciales, Puerto Rico, and is popular among Lehigh Valley residents. Other performers include Pancho Bongo y Su Orquesta, a high-energy classic salsa band with 12 musicians, winner of the 2015 Golden Latin Award for the best Latin Orquesta; El Bebo Merengue Band, based in Allentown; El Batey Puertorriqueno, a dance performance group based in Allentown; the Hispanic American League of Artists, a hip-hop and tropical dance performance group; and the Allentown Arts Academy Charter School performing group, made up of students at the Allentown Arts Academy, celebrating folkloric dance.

A variety of food vendors will be offering ethnic Hispanic and tropical food and beverages selections during the course of the event.

The Noches de Ritmo program series began in 2013, attracting more than 1,600 attendees in its first year. The program has continued to expand and attract new participants as the series begins its fifth season. The title of the program, which translates to “Rhythm Nights,” is accompanied by the tagline which defines the essential components of these events: “Music, Dance, Art & Community.” All Noches de Ritmo events are held in both English and Spanish, and include different elements of local culture through music, singing, dancing and artwork. The program won a state award for excellence in March 2015 from the Pennsylvania Parks & Recreation Society.

The Holiday Inn and 904 West Restaurant are the hospitality sponsors for the event. Special thanks to City Councilwoman Cynthia Mota, chair of the Parks & Recreation Committee, for promotion assistance for the event.

For more information on the Noches de Ritmo series, call the Department of Parks and Recreation at 610-437-7757. “Like” the Department of Parks and Recreation on facebook to stay up-to-date on program information at www.facebook.com/allentownparkandrec.

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