Salsa, Lucha Libre and Food Take Over Downtown Lansing This Weekend
There are at least a couple things I've managed to go my entire life without learning.
One? How to salsa dance.
Two? What, exactly, lucha libre is.
Apparently I can fix both of those problems this weekend in downtown Lansing.
517 Hispanic Heritage Weekend Returns to Lansing
517 Hispanic Heritage Weekend runs Thursday through Sunday, September 17-20, with four days of events celebrating Hispanic and Latino culture around downtown Lansing.
READ MORE: 13 Michigan Festivals and Events You Don't Want to Miss This September
And Friday night could potentially expose one of my secrets.
I've kind of always wanted to learn how to salsa. There. I said it. It just looks fun.
Free Salsa Dancing at Lansing Shuffle
Friday's Hispanic Heritage Dance Class & Mixer happens from 6 to 10 p.m. on the patio at Lansing Shuffle. There will be free merengue and salsa classes with Lorenzo Lopez and Yesenia Murillo, followed by an open Latin dance party.
Whether anyone wants to witness me attempting to salsa is a completely different question.
Taste of Hispanic Heritage Festival Takes Over Capitol Avenue
On Saturday, Capitol Avenue in front of the Michigan State Capitol turns into the big Taste of Hispanic Heritage Festival from 3 to 10 p.m.
There'll be more than 70 vendors and food trucks, live music, DJs, folklórico dancers, cultural performances, a Kidz Zone, and lucha libre wrestling at 4 and 8 p.m.
What Is Lucha Libre?
I had to look that one up. If I'd ever watched Nacho Libre, I probably would have known.
Lucha libre is Mexican-style pro wrestling, famous for colorful masks, larger-than-life characters, and high-flying moves.
I will not be taking any classes for that.
Basically, this weekend in downtown Lansing is food, culture, and masked guys launching themselves around a wrestling ring. What more could you want?
FYI: most of the public festivities are free.
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