Exposing Exponica

What do you get when 50,000 Latinos shake their nalgas, chomp on tasty treats, and party until late at the Miami-Dade Fair Expo Center? If you answered the Youth Fair, you’d be right. And wrong. The fair doesn’t roll into town until spring. In the fall, it’s Exponica time. How have you missed an event that draws so many thousands and is celebrating its 20th anniversary? Get yourself to West Dade, amigo. Originally started as a Nicaraguan event (hence the name), the expo is more indoor/outdoor flea market than fair. But with an eclectic mix of live Latin music and even more diversity in its food, it’s definitely not just another stuffy exposition with product samples and corporate swag. This year, Binomio de Oro from Colombia and Los Iracundos from Argentina will headline as crowds munch on pupusas from Ecuador, arepas from Colombia, and mofongo from the Dominican Republic. Besides the entertainment, which includes an equestrian parade, this year’s event is another chance for Central and South American artisans to sell their wares, including the always-popular hammocks, ceramics, cedar and oak furnishings, and other arts and crafts. Exponica runs this Friday from 5 to 11 p.m., Saturday from 1 to 11 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Fridays-Sundays, 5 p.m. Starts: Nov. 12. Continues through Nov. 14, 2010