The Santa Rosa Salsa Festival returns for its sixth year of dance and celebration with Grammy Award–winning performers, world-class instructors and an expanded schedule of activities this weekend at the Flamingo Resort.
The tastiest addition to the festival this year is a food and wine event on Saturday that offers customizable menus, wine from several locally owned wineries and live entertainment. Master percussionist and singer Braulio Barrera leads San Francisco salsa orchestra Somos el Son in a fiery performance, while Simoncini Vineyards, Willowbrook Cellars and Sonoma Cider offer their flavorful profiles and handcrafted pours. The next night, another heavy hitter on the Bay Area salsa scene, the tropical Pacific Mambo Orchestra (pictured), comes to the Flamingo for an exciting dance party.
The Santa Rosa Salsa Festival also features its usual schedule of Latin dance workshops, led by local and nationally recognized instructors and open to all skill levels, that cover everything from mambo, bachata, cumbia and even the Hustle. Rounding out the weekend are all-star performances by a dozen Latin dance troupes and couples from the Bay Area and beyond. Emphasizing the joy of dance and community, the Santa Rosa Salsa Festival moves to the rhythm on Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 16–17, at the Flamingo Resort, 2777 Fourth St., Santa
Rosa. $20 and up. Saturday, 9am; Sunday, 7pm. Santarosasalsafestival.com.
