ROCK SPRINGS — The committee organizing the annual International Day event has announced the entertainment line-up. This year’s annual festival is set for July 11 in Bunning Park and features a wide range of local, regional, and international entertainment, activities for kids, exotic foods and unique vendor items.
As always, admission is FREE of charge.
The celebration kicks off with the Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast at 8:00 a.m. Entertainment begins at 10:00 a.m. and continues throughout the day. The full schedule includes:
10:00 a.m. Dave Pedri and the EIO Band
11:00 a.m. OPA Greek Dancers
12:00 noon Mariachi Zavala
1:00 p.m. James Bilagody and the Wyoming Little Feathers
2:00 p.m. Polish Folk Dancers Krakowiacy
3:00 p.m. OPA Greek Dancers
4:00 p.m. Mariachi Zavala
5:00 p.m. James Bilagody and the Wyoming Little Feathers
6:00 p.m. Polish Folk Dancers Krakowiacy
7:00 p.m. Dave Pedri and the EIO Band
8:00 p.m. Remembering the Fab Four! Imagine (Beatles Tribute)
In addition to hourly performances, there will be a kid’s area with crafts and activities. Tony Corona will be strolling through the park throughout the day playing the accordion. There will also be plenty of food vendors as well as over 20 imported beers available.
Rock Springs favorite Dave Pedri and the EIO Band will open the day with their unique blend of accordion music. A long-running tradition in Rock Springs, Dave and the band are always a crowd favorite.
The OPA Greek Dancers will showcase a variety of traditional Greek folk. The suite of dances will consist of Pan-Hellenic dances (danced throughout Greece with regional variances) and dances from the mainland and islands. The most popular form of the Greek folk dance is the open circle, with regular hand hold position, moving counter-clockwise. Next is the straight line with arms on shoulders of adjacent dancers. The third form is the curved-line dance with the basket-weave hold. You’ll experience all of them at International Day!
Mariachi Zavala is headed by Gonzalo & Marcos Zavala, some of the most exciting and creative performers and arrangers working today. Their style and musicianship allow for spontaneous and exciting sounds in every performance. This family group sets the standard for professionalism and reliability, determined to deliver the very best in mariachi entertainment that only decades of performing as a family can bring. Mariachi is a traditional Mexican folk music that originated in the state of Jalisco, and is now loved and respected throughout the world as a piece of Mexican identity.
James Bilagody and the Wyoming Little Feathers will bring authentic Native American music and dancing to International Day. James has been nominated twice for the Native American Music Awards and considered for a Grammy nomination. He’ll bring his unique fusion of Navajo Folk & Rock to the stage. The Wyoming Little Feathers will demonstrate Native American Dancing.
Polish Folk Dancers, Krakowiacy, began in 2002 in an effort to promote and preserve the Polish culture. One ambitious Polish amateur dancer, and a handful of parents, had an idea so they collected, borrowed, sewed, and bought what they could in order to have authentic Polish folk costumes from one region: Krakow. More than a decade later, their group, Krakowiacy, is over 50 dancers strong, and has an extensive collection of costumes from many corners of their beloved Poland.
The final act of the evening is Imagine – a Beatles tribute band. Beatle-mania will sweep through Bunning Park when they take the stage! “Remembering the Fab Four! Imagine” was started in 1993 by four lads who’ve performed more than 1,000 shows across the United States and abroad. Over the years the group has had the privilege of sharing the stage with such notable acts as the Beach Boys, Jay Leno, Chicago, Three Dog Night, Carrie Underwood, America, Glen Campbell, the Temptations, The Commodores, The Mandrell Sisters, Badfinger and others. They also performed at the Broadway Theater in Downtown Rock Springs last October.
International Day celebrates the diverse heritage of Rock Springs each July. Known as the “Home of 56 Nationalities,” different cultures are celebrated all day through food, exhibits, costumes and live entertainment. It is the only ethnic festival of its kind in Wyoming. For more information visit DowntownRS.com.
