Fiesta 2014 at Darling Harbour

Australia's BIGGEST and FREE celebration of Latin American music, dance and culture will pump-up the fun to GRANDE volumes when the annual Darling Harbour FIESTA Festival kicks-off this October 2014.

Sydney's answer to the Brazilian Carnival, Darling Harbour FIESTA 2014 will showcase some of the hottest local and international Latin American bands, DJs and dance-acts from 11-12 October, after screenings from 'The Best of' the Sydney Latin American Film Festival from 4-6 October.

Ideal public holiday family entertainment, Darling Harbour 2014 will present FREE alfresco cinema at Darling Quarter Village Green North, where two Latin American feature films will be broadcast on the big-screen every night of the Labour Day long-weekend, from 7.00pm-10.30pm.

From multi award-winning Uruguayan animations to Venezuelan comedy and a feature-length documentary about the Kallawayas of Bolivia, the three-night program of Spanish-language films with English subtitles spans a spectrum of genres to suit all ages and tastes.

The festival fun will amp-up the following weekend from 11-12 October, when Darling Harbour FIESTA 2014 will see Sydney's ultimate party precinct in full swing with live music, roving entertainment and open-air dance-floors for all Sydneysiders to whoop it up Latino-style!

Darling Harbour FIESTA 2014 will stage a central dance and entertainment hub called 'Beco Latino' at Palm Grove, beneath the Western Distributor freeway. With 'Beco' meaning 'Laneway', the new Beco Latino hub will feature a line-up of Latin American bands – including Los Crema Paraiso from Brooklyn NYC, the Chilean and Spanish chart-topping artist Rachel Delgado and Nothin but Jam, funk, r'n'b and soul pop band Son Veneno featuring C Major and a special guest appearance by Merenia Gillies, Sydney's own Aria-nominated alternative Latino band Watussi, the classic live New York (nuyorican) sound of Malo Malo and more – will perform live on both days of the FIESTA 2014 main-event weekend.

Beco Latino at Palm Grove will also feature three Latino club scene DJ kings, with DJ Dwight Chocolate Escobar and the Grammy award-winning DJ Afro to live-mix beats on Saturday 11 October; and on Sunday 12 October, DJ Spex will mix sounds of Latin reggae, rock, ska, hip-hop, cumbia and even electronic tango.

In addition to the feature DJs and live Latino music bands, Pop-Up Street Dancers will perform at Palm Grove, where a Silent -Latino' Disco will rove, a Mexican Street Artist will create an art-installation and Street Footballer Freestylers will flaunt fancy footwork talents in five-minute performance sessions.

A Boxing Ring at Palm Grove will also feature Street Footballer Freestylers, Mexican Wrestlers and Hip Hop Breakdancers on both event days; and on Saturday 11 October, spectacular Capoeria performers will feature live in the Ring.

Fun for all ages, Darling Harbour FIESTA 2014 will further feature a more family-orientated dance stage at Harbourside Amphitheatre, where 20 premiere Latin American dance acts – including Latin Mystique, Salsa Republic, La Fiesta Entertainment, Brazilian Latin Dance Company, Colombian Cultural & Folkloric Organisation, The Mexican Dance Group of Australia, Dance Dance Dance and a special dance display and class by Latin Dance Australia and Modus Vivendi – will have Harbourside visitors shaking their bon bons both days and nights of FIESTA 2014.

Across Cockle Bay at Pier 26 Forecourt opposite SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, FIESTA 2014 will get bodies moving to the dynamic drumming and percussion of roving bands Samba Ninja on Saturday 11 October, and three-time winner of Mexico City's National Folklore Dance Competition, Victor Valdes and His Real Mexico Mariachi Band on Sunday 12 October.

Across at Darling Quarter throughout the FIESTA 2014 main weekend, the more laid-back sounds of live bands Flamenco del Mar, Quimbombo, Son De Cana,Vitiko y Los Munecos, Sussurro, Los Crema Paraiso and DJ Afro will provide smooth tunes to go with fabulous food from a range of cafés, bars and restaurants to offer Latin American-inspired specials throughout Darling Harbour FIESTA 2014.

Darling Harbour FIESTA is one of many big events staged and produced annually by Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, which attracts 26 million visitors to Darling Harbour each year and contributes $1.2 billion annually to the New South Wales visitor economy.

For more information about Darling Harbour FIESTA 2014 – including parking and transport advice – visit darlingharbour.com or check-out the Darling Harbour page on Facebook.