By KAREN BINDER
Illinois Correspondent

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Events planned for Los Nochas de Septiembre could easily fill a piñata for all ages.

In fact, the “September Nights” arts festival includes two related features: a piñata party for children and a colorful, yet educational collection of piñatas crafted by artists of all ages in the seven-county Illinois region.

In recognition to the area’s growing Latino population, this is the first year for the Hispanic arts celebration, which is “a salute to the vibrant arts and culture of southern Illinois’ richly diverse Latino community,” said Carbondale Community Arts Executive Director Nancy Stemper.

The event will begin Sept. 21 and continue through the end of the month. It will highlight artists and performers from several Latin American countries who will come together for workshops, exhibits and concerts in venues throughout the Carbondale community, including a Southern Illinois University football game tailgate.

The southern Illinois area has an increasing Hispanic population, with many attracted to SIU or migrant work opportunities throughout the region’s orchards, truck farms and vineyards.
“It seems many of our region’s Latino residents are part of a hidden population. This is a fun and interesting way for everyone to learn more about the heritage of some of our residents through the arts,” Stemper said.

The free festival will include such musical performers as Tarima Son, a Latino folk ensemble whose violinist recently won first place in the Chicago Folk & Roots Festival, and Grammy-nominated Sones de Mexico Ensemble.

Besides presenting public concerts, these groups also will go into area grade schools with high populations of Hispanic students, with in-depth workshops for the children and teachers.

The SIU Museum will host the centerpiece of the visual arts component with the “Celebrating Latino Art” exhibit, which will include a reception with a flamenco guitarist.

University students of Hispanic descent, including those from Mexico, Costa Rica, Belize, Chile and Peru, will present a variety of dances and concerts. A local coffeehouse also will host a salsa dance. A Saturday night dance is expected to attract hundreds of revelers in their weekend best, while a Sunday afternoon at Turley Park puts an Aztec dance troupe and others center stage.
Chile native Julio Barrenzuela is a recent SIU graduate and will lead a salsa class and a demonstration.

“People must come out and see how much fun we have. Everyone will have a great time,” he said, with a couple of quick snaps of his fingers.

Here’s the festival lineup: Sept. 26, Piñata Fiesta, “Celebrating Latino Art” exhibit; Sept. 27, SIU footfall tailgate performances; Sept. 28, Community Festival with Nahui Ollin Danzas Aztec dance troupe and Sones de Mexico Ensemble.

Go online to www.cca.com for more information.