Freeman Arts Latino talent showcase applications due Aug. 15

For the second year, the Freeman Arts Pavilion will bring its signature Locals Under the Lights event to Festival Hispano in Georgetown for a special Latino talent showcase Sunday, Sept. 15.

Locals Under the Lights Latino will highlight the musical talents of performers and musicians from across Delmarva. The deadline to apply is Thursday, Aug. 15. To sign up, interested performers can go to freemanarts.org/talento.

The winner of last year’s Locals Under the Lights Latino was Neillyn Firpo, a Dominican American singer. She said the highlights of the 2023 show were seeing the incredible talent at the festival and feeling the supportive atmosphere. Firpo said she encourages other performers to not focus on winning or losing. “Embrace the opportunity to participate, as every audition and performance adds to your experience and validates your journey as an artist,” she said.

A 2024 graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson University, Firpo is continuing to perform while pursuing her master’s degree, doing commercial, TV and film work, and helping businesses with their marketing strategies.

“We are looking forward to this second year of showcasing Latino musicians and building closer connections with Delaware’s Latino community,” said Patti Grimes, Freeman Arts Pavilion executive director. “This celebration at Festival Hispano is the state’s outstanding arts performance highlighting Hispanic culture, and [it] plays a powerful role in strengthening Sussex County’s cultural and ethnic diversity.”

Festival Hispano, also known as the Maxima Hispanic Fest, attracts 20,000 people to downtown Georgetown each year for a celebration of Latino culture and heritage. It will take place from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 15, on North Race Street. Featuring music, food, traditional arts and crafts, dancing and community organizations, the event raises funds for local organizations such as La Casita and The Rosa Health Center.

Freeman Arts Pavilion has honored Latino culture over the years by hosting Latino performers, including Tito Puente Jr., Sonia De Los Santos and the Gipsy Kings. The groups and individuals perform on the main stage and through the Arts Access Initiative, which presents programs on-site where children and families can experience the live arts together. More than a third of its programming is free.

Freeman Arts Pavilion is a program of the Joshua M. Freeman Foundation to create experiences that elevate the human spirit.