Fifth-annual Viva Dallas! Hispanic Expo Launches New Texfest Outdoor Music Festival August 10 11 At Dallas Market Center August 10, 2007

Free multicultural festival to feature legendary funk band WAR and Los Guardianes del Amor plus Nydia Rojas, Las Tres Divas (featuring Elida Reyna, Shelly Lares and Stefani Montiel), and more

The Viva Dallas! Hispanic Expo marks its fifth anniversary with an exciting new addition the TexFest Outdoor Music Festival on Fri., Aug. 10, and Sat., Aug. 11, from 6:30 11 p.m., on the grounds of the Dallas Market Center. Free and open to the public, the event features legendary funk band War (famous for the George Lopez TV show theme song, Low Rider) and Los Guardianes del Amor plus Latino favorites mariachi vocalist Nydia Rojas, Las Tres Divas (featuring Elida Reyna, Shelly Lares and Stefani Montiel), Conjunto Baraja de Oro, and Carabali Salsa & Merengue Band. The weekend is presented by the Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Bank of America.

The music series brings a nighttime entertainment aspect to the popular Viva Dallas! Hispanic Expo, slated for Sat., Aug. 11, from 9 a.m. 6 p.m. and Sun., Aug. 12, from 10 a.m. 5 p.m. inside the Dallas Market Center. Also free to the general public, the daytime Expo is a multi-faceted consumer products and services event featuring a range of cultural activities for the entire family. More than 300 exhibitors and vendors are expected plus giveaways, product sampling, community health awareness and screenings, childrens activities, live entertainment and a variety of food are on tap.

Texas Rangers players will stop by to show support and sign autographs for fans. There will be free mammograms and eye screenings, immunizations for children, exercise demonstrations, information on affordable health insurance, and a Carter Bloodcare drive at the Health Pavilion. Entertainment will be provided by Grupo Pakal Mayan Performing Artists, Ayllumasi Andean Group and Ballet Folklorico of Dallas, to name a few.

Fridays nights headliner is War, a multi-racial, multi-cultural American funk band that began in Southern California in the 1970s. In addition to Low Rider, other hits include Why Cant We Be Friends, The Cisco Kid and Spill The Wine with Eric Burdon and the Animals. War is considered one of the first and most successful musical crossover bands to fuse elements of rock, funk, jazz, Latin music, R&B and reggae. They will perform from 9:30 11 p.m. on Friday night.

Friday evening opens at 6:30 p.m. with the sounds of Carabali Salsa & Merengue Band, a local group that performs traditional and contemporary music delivered with precision and energy. Carabali also plays Chachacha, Bolero and Cumbia. Next up at 7:30 p.m. is the sexy and talented trio Las Tres Divas featuring Elida Reyna, Shelly Lares and Stefani Montiel. The three women recently returned from a USO Pacific Tour where they entertained thousands of troops and fans overseas.

Saturday nights line-up kicks off with El Conjunto Baraja de Oro followed by Nydia Rojas, a Mariachi vocalist influenced by the indigenous music of northern Mexico performing with the famous Mariachi Los Caporales. The night concludes with music from Los Guardianes del Amor, a band that focuses on romantic themes and covers many songs by famous Argentinean song writer Anibal Pastor. Performances for Baraja de Oro are from 6:30 7:30 p.m., Nydia Rojas from 7:30 9 p.m. and Los Guardianes del Amor from 9:30 11 p.m.

No coolers or alcohol will be allowed. Guests may bring chairs and blankets. Concessions booths will sell beer, soft drinks, water and food (including nachos, fried potatoes, ice cream, tacos, snow cones and roasted corn).

Dallas Market Hall is located at 2200 IH-35E (corner of Stemmons and Wycliff). For more information, call the Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber at 214-521-6007 or go to www.gdhcc.org and click on News & Events.

Viva Dallas! is proudly sponsored by: Bank of America, Anheuser-Bush, Inc., Al Dia/The Dallas Morning News/WFAA-TV, Chase, Univision 23 / Telefutura 49, Univision Radio, Coca Cola Bottling Company of North Texas, Ben E. Keith Co., Capital One Bank, General Motors, Mercado Biling