HispanicBusiness

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., Sept. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- In honor of Mexican Independence Day, Universal Studios Hollywood introduces "Festival Universal," a celebration of Mexican culture, music, dance, art, and live entertainment during the first and second weekends of September (6 - 7 and 13 - 14).

During the four days of the event, Universal Studios Hollywood will feature south-of-the-border entertainment throughout the park, including authentic arts and crafts from various regions of Mexico. An exclusive art exhibit, "Raices," will feature the art of Hugo Rivera and Mexico's El Salvadoran cousins, Fausto Perez, Salvador Rubio, and Alfonso Flores. Younger guests will also have a chance to participate in creating authentic Latino art at a children's art workshop.

At the Blues Brothers stage area, guests will experience the spirit and excitement of live Mexican music with Mariachi bands, local Bandas and Norteno groups performing continuous live entertainment throughout each day, accompanied by stirring performances of professional Mexican folk dancers.

Folkloric group Ballet Alegria Mexicana as well as Salsa master Johnny Polanco will be among the featured dancers. Music will include the local talent of group Sueno Norteno as well as Mariachi band Los Alegres Trovadores de Benjamin Flores.

Other celebrity talent featured will be the famous Carlos Hernandez, current WBC 130 lb. world boxing champion who will greet guests along with Antonio Margarito, the current WBO 147 lb. world boxing champion.

The celebration of music and dance will also include the Live Salsa Band Parade, where characters from Nickelodeon such as "Rugrats," "Sponge Bob Square Pants" and many others take part in the jubilant celebration. They will parade and greet park guests, throw colorful festival beads while riding along on our festively decorated trolley. Their authentic costumes and celebratory nature will bring alive the spirit of Mexico.

Featuring such unique and ground-breaking attractions as "Shrek 4-D," "Terminator 2: 3D," "Jurassic Park-The Ride" and the world-renowned behind-the-scenes "Studio Tour," Universal Studios Hollywood is the world's largest movie studio and theme park.

Universal CityWalk is a unique dining and shopping promenade adjacent to Universal Studios Hollywood featuring 65 entertainment-themed restaurants, clubs, shops and movie theaters.

Universal Studios Hollywood ( http://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/ ) is a unit of Universal Parks & Resorts, a division of Vivendi UNIVERSAL Entertainment (VUE) ( http://www.universalstudios.com/ ), the U.S.-based film, television and recreation entity of Vivendi Universal, a global media and communications company. Universal Studios Hollywood

CONTACT: Eliot Sekuler, +1-818-622-6896, eliot.sekuler@unistudios.com ,or Audrey Eig, +1-818-622-2962, audrey.eig@unistudios.com , or Meghan Gamber,+1-818-622-5985, meghan.gamber@unistudios.com , all of Universal StudiosHollywood

Web site: http://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/http://www.universalstudios.com/