File photo. MaryAnn Gonzalez (right) and her husband David dance Saturday evening during the Mexican-American festival. (Photo: Shane Hughes/Sentinel-Tribune) |
PERRYSBURG – Well-known headliners are expected to bring hip-hop flair and larger crowds to the
Mexican-American festival held each year in Perrysburg Heights.
Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Coolio and Naughty by Nature have brought a buzz to the second day of the event,
which comes after a one-day festival was held last year to keep costs down.
The three national acts will perform near the end of an all-day music slate on Aug. 30, preceded by a
Friday evening of mostly Latino music that keeps the festival’s focus on heritage intact.
The event is later in the month than in past years, the result of conflicts with other area festivals.
The new approach to entertainment comes after partnering with Revolver eCigs, which has experience
organizing similar events, said Jason Craig, director of operations of the Perrysburg Community Center.
Craig said he is a customer and simply asked about shows the company had organized before.
"It just kind of went from there. I said, ‘We can do things Perrysburg’s not seen before.’"
Within a week of that conversation, the three well-known headliners had signed on.
Craig said he was initially worried about overshadowing the commitment to the Mexican-American heritage
of some Perrysburg Heights residents, but dedicating Friday night for the popular Latin-inspired bands
made it possible to bring hip-hop in on Saturday.
"I thought we might get a little resistance, but I think as a whole, with those three headliners,
everybody’s going to love ’em.
"This year’s just gonna be cool. … It’s amazing how everybody’s really interested in coming out
that night for that show."
Craig said about $10,000 in expenses were saved by combining the two distinct events into the same
festival, which will have the same yearly features in food and drink sales and a family area with
inflatables and other activities.
"We’re going to have minimal costs this year compared to normal. So all the money we would normally
put out in expenses is going to be profit for the community center," Craig said, noting that he
hopes to earn enough to operate the nonprofit community center for 6 to 12 months.
Nearly 50 performers are scheduled for the Saturday show Aug. 30 from noon until 11 p.m., with tickets
available at Revolver in Perrysburg or by calling Craig at the community center, 419-874-4529. Regional
acts will play that day, taking turns until the main attractions, scheduled for around 9 p.m.
Craig said he hopes for anywhere from 7,000 to 10,000 people on Saturday. He also expects that between
1,000 and 3,000 will attend Friday’s festivities on Aug. 29, which are free and will run from 5 p.m. to
11 p.m.
Tickets are $20 in advance or $30 at the door for Saturday’s entertainment. Craig said a "very
limited" number of VIP tickets are available, which are $100 and include special access and an
opportunity to meet the artists.
The set-up this year will have three stages, with Los Hermanos Villegas and other Latino acts on the main
stage Friday, surrounded by rock bands and a DJ on two other stages.
"They’re phenomenal," Craig said of Los Hermanos Villegas. "They’ll bring in a crowd
easily."