From noon to dusk on Saturday, August 29, the RI Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission presents the 32nd Annual Heritage Festival. The Rhode Island State House lawn, at the intersection of Gaspee and Francis streets, will be the setting for this exciting and delicious event.  This family-friendly event is free and open to the public.

    Participants in 2009 include African American, Bolivian, British, Cape Verdean, Dominican, Guatemalan, Heritage Harbor, India, Irish, Japanese, Korean, Laotian, Panamanian, Serbian, Sweden, Thai, and Turkish groups.

All day long, the stage will showcase performances from around the world. Bolivian, Cape Verdean, Chinese, Indian, Irish, Japanese, Korean, Laotian, Panamanian, and Portuguese groups as well as Square/Round Dancers will perform music and dance throughout the day.

The headline act, Carlos de Leon Group, has performed worldwide with Latin jazz luminaries such as Tito Puente, Tito Rodriguez and Frank "Machito" Grillo, as well as the Fania All-Stars, a band that pioneered "Salsa."