Aztec Bash and Baja Splash at Aquarium of the Pacific

Aquarium of the Pacific hosts seventh annual Baja Splash Cultural Festival the weekend of September 6 & 7, 2008.

Aquarium’s festival celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month and features dance & music performances, bilingual environmental programs, arts & crafts, and more

Aquarium visitors to receive FREE admission to the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach during Baja Splash Weekend

In celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month and Mexican Independence Day, the Aquarium of the Pacific will host its seventh annual Baja Splash Cultural Festival on Saturday and Sunday, September 6-7, 2007 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. This event for the whole family will feature environmental educational programs, including underwater presentations with divers (Spanish and English), as well as traditional dance, crafts, music, storytelling, interactive children’s programs, ethnic food, and much more. Those visiting the Aquarium during the festival will also receive FREE admission to the Museum of Latin American Art (MoLAA) that weekend by presenting their Aquarium of the Pacific ticket stubs.

This year's Baja Splash will highlight Mexico’s Gulf of California, which is one of the most important wildlife havens in the world. Through the Aquarium’s bilingual film A Sea on the Edge and Gulf of California exhibition, visitors will be able to learn about this important ecosystem, the threats facing it, and how they can help.

Mexican, Salvadoran, and Panamanian folk dance performances, Aztec dancers, and other entertainers will perform in front of the Aquarium’s tallest exhibit, the Blue Cavern—home to leopard sharks, giant sea bass, rays, and other denizens of the deep. The public may also enjoy live musical entertainment such as a Mexican mariachi and a Guatemalan marimba group. The Aquarium’s Marine Life Theater will feature an interactive cultural program for families, and there will be children’s craft workshops presented by MoLAA in the Great Hall and ethnic cuisine available for purchase in Café Scuba.

Highlighted entertainers, include: Danza Azteca Cultural Ketzaliztli (Aztec drum and dance); Ballet Folklorico ASOSAL (Salvadoran dance); Mariachi (Mexican music); Marimba Guatemala India (music); Mixcoacalli Ballet Folklorico (Mexican dance); Folklorico del Mar (Mexican dance); MEXIKA "Sounds of Ancient Mexico" (interactive music and storytelling); Ballet Folklorico Viva Panama; and more. This event is included with paid Aquarium admission.

Museum of Latin American Art (MoLAA)
Founded in 1996, MoLAA is more than a museum; it is a renowned cultural center that presents a diverse array of special events and educational programs.  A non-profit, 501 (c) (3) organization, MoLAA's mission is to educate the public about contemporary Latin American fine art (by artists who have lived and worked in Latin America since WWII) through the presentation of a significant permanent collection, dynamic exhibitions, and related cultural and educational programs.  The museum is located in the heart of the East Village Arts District of Long Beach.  The museum’s weekend hours are 11 a.m.-7 p.m. on Saturdays and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sundays. For more information, visit www.molaa.org  or call 562-437-1689.

Aquarium of the Pacific
The Aquarium of the Pacific, a nonprofit institution, celebrates our planet’s largest and most diverse body of water: the Pacific Ocean. Home to more than 12,500 animals, the Aquarium explores the waters of Southern California and Baja and the Northern and Tropical Pacific. The Aquarium features hands-on discovery labs staffed by knowledgeable volunteers; the Lorikeet Forest aviary; its interactive Shark Lagoon; the bilingual kiosk exhibit Whales: Voices in the Sea, the new Ocean on the Edge exhibition; and the bilingual Gulf of California exhibition and accompanying film A Sea on the Edge. The Aquarium was rated #2 Los Angeles area Family Destination in the latest Zagat U.S. Family Travel Guide. A world of discovery awaits people of all ages, backgrounds, and interests. The Aquarium is open daily from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and is located at 100 Aquarium Way in Long Beach, Calif. General admission is $20.95 for adults (12+), $17.95 for seniors (62+), $11.95 for children (3-11), and free for children under 3 and Aquarium members. For advance tickets and information, the public may visit www.aquariumofpacific.org or call 562/590-3100.                                          

Festival Sponsor: Union Bank of California                                                                

Supported in part by a grant from the Arts Council for Long Beach and the City of Long Beach