Festival On The Move

Central Florida's largest gathering of Hispanics, Festival Calle Orange Downtown Orlando, is moving to North Orange Avenue, Downtown Orlando.

This year, the 5th annual Festival Calle Orange Downtown Orlando will be given on October 26, 2003. This event began in 1998 with only the vision and backing of Rene Plasencia, CEO of Rene's Productions, producer of this great event. With the exception of promotional sponsors, Rene Plasencia footed the bill of an event that would take up 10 blocks of Downtown Orlando with 3 stages and over 30 bands. Each stage was live with continuous music being played by Top performers in the Latin Music Industry. Among them, Puerto Rican Power and George Lamond. This event was put together to bring the Hispanic culture up front and center in the very heart of the City of Orlando. Hispanics compromise a great portion of the population outnumbering black Americans.

Thousands of people flocked into Downtown Orlando and the number of spectators was no where near the amount initially anticipated. Over the years the festival doubled in attendance and gained the support of the corporate community. In 2002, due to construction on one of the effected streets of the festival, this event was moved to South Orange Avenue. This area contains more privately owned business and bars and was a great addition to Festival Calle Orange Downtown Orlando. In 2002, over 100,000 people from all ethnic backgrounds came together and celebrated the Hispanic Culture on the streets of Downtown Orlando. Unfortunately, due to the uncooperative nature of only 2 business in an area of 300, permitting and negotiations for using South Orange Avenue became an uphill battle. The producers of the now Historic Festival Calle Orange saw an opportunity to once again fill the streets of North Orange Avenue with the flavors of the latin community. Construction on one of the streets has now finished and the public can once again embrace the birthplace of one of Florida's largest festivals. Festival Calle Orange Downtown Orlando!