Mexican delegation to perform in Springfield

After a five-month postponement, the annual ArtsFiesta event is on next week in Founders Park.

Springfield Sister Cities Association is hosting a delegation from Springfield's sister city in Mexico, Tlaquepaque, including the all-female mariachi group "Mariachi Femenil Nuevo Tecalitlan."

The visit is for the Oct. 9 ArtsFiesta, which originally was scheduled in May as part of ArtsFest, but was postponed due to travel concerns to and from Mexico related to the H1N1 flu virus.

As a preview to ArtsFiesta, the mariachi group will visit several elementary and middle schools in the area, along with several Boys & Girls Club meetings. Free public performances also are planned, at noon Oct. 7 at Drury's University's Findlay Student Center, noon Oct. 8 at Ozarks Technical Community College's Information Commons Atrium area, noon Oct. 9 at Missouri State University's Plaster Student Union, and 2:30 p.m. Oct. 9 in the Busch Municipal Building lobby.

Admission to ArtsFiesta costs $3 and is free for children younger than 10. In case of inclement weather, the event will be moved to Oct. 10. For more information, click the link below or call the SSCA at (417) 864-1191.