Friday 2 October
FIESTA NIGHTS
The hugely popular DJ Frank Madrid will kick start Fiesta's weekend of hot entertainment at 6.30pm on the Aquashell stage, followed by Afro-Colombian rock band Watussi at 7pm.
Also performing at Fiesta's opening night will be the highly acclaimed, double-Grammy award winners Aterciopelados from Colombia.
Saturday 3 October
Starting at 12pm, Fiesta's Saturday schedule includes a vibrant hot-pot of the salsa sounds, Latin rhythms and funky beats of Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Spain, Uruguay, Mexico, Ecuador and more at Tumbalong Park, Palm Grove and Harbourside Amphitheatre.
With:
The renowned I Like It Like That Orchestra,
So you think you can dance?
At 6.30pm Celebrity Dancers of Latin America will take to the stage for a 30-minute non-stop dance explosion that will encompass bombos, salsa, rumba, gauchos, funky Cumbia beats, cha cha cha and reggaeton b-boys!
Venezuela's musical ambassadors and one of the biggest bands in the Latin music world, Bailatino will perform two sets of their internationally acclaimed classic salsa that will have spectators scrambling for the dancefloor.
Between sets, the dancefloor will be thumping to the best contemporary Latin beats mixed by DJ Dwight 'Chocolate' Escobar.
Sunday 4 October
Skip your Sunday siesta and say buenos dias! to another day of contagious rhythms and hot South American entertainment including Mucho Mumbo's tribute to the Grammy-award winning, Hollywood actor, Ruben Blades. Mucho Mumbo will perform some of the unforgettable songs that turned Ruben into a Latin music status symbol, including the biggest selling salsa single in history, Pedro Navaja.
Cuban singer Gonzalo Porta and the Sydney Salsa All Stars will perform the Cuban and Puerto Rican rhythms that exploded in the melting pot of New York City in the early 70s and marked salsa music forever.
Hot on the heels of their Saturday performance, Bailatino will heat up Tumbalong Park with another salsa extravaganza and the daily dance lessons will continue at Palm Grove with a focus on tango and the latest dance sensation, rueda.
From traditional to upbeat, elegant to spicy and modern to funky, the Celebrity Dancers of Latin America will ignite Sunday's Fiesta Nights from 6.30pm followed by 13-piece band, Mi Tierra, at 7pm.
Mi Tierra's renowned sound is characterised by a pulsating rhythm and percussion section, layered with breathtaking vocals, tight punching horns and unique riffs of timba Cubana – a sizzling brew of traditional Cuban music, jazz, hip hop and R&B.
A kaleidoscope of colourful fireworks will light up the sky over Cockle Bay at 7.30pm.
Monday 5 October
Darling Harbour Fiesta promises a flame-hot finale to its long weekend of entertainment including Soul Sacrifice – A celebration of the music of Carlos Santana. Some of Australia's preeminent Latin musicians will collaborate to perform this unique Latin rock tribute to Santana's Grammy award winning blend of Latin, blues, rock and Cuban music.