MONTEREY, Calif- Families can learn how to protect the ocean and celebrate the sea at the Monterey Bay Aquarium's annual "Fiesta del Mar" event on Sunday, October 4. "Fiesta del Mar" is an annual Latin American cultural festival celebrating ocean conservation. This year's fun-filled day will include activities for the whole family, including live performances by musicians and traditional dancers, special programs, bilingual feeding shows and crafts for kids. Children 12 and under will be admitted free to the aquarium all day.
The highlight of the day will be the presentation of the "Heroe del Medio Ambiente" (Hero of the Environment) award to María Celeste, host of Al Rojo Vivo con María Celeste (To the Boiling Point with María Celeste), Telemundo's popular national talk show. An animal rights activist and defender of the oceans, Celeste was selected by Newsweek magazine to appear on the cover of its "20 Most Powerful Women of the Next Generation" issue. She is being recognized for her in-depth coverage of environmental issues; specifically she has raised awareness of the plight faced by turtles, sharks and grey whales, as well as the dangers of overfishing and plastics pollution in the ocean. The Hero of the Environment award will be presented at 2 p.m. on the Great Tide Pool deck.
In addition to her coverage on ocean conservation issues, she has also been a guest host on NBC's Today show and has collaborated with Dateline and NBC Nightly News. The award-winning journalist recently published her third book, "Vive tu vida al rojo vivo: Secretos para triunfar en todo" (Make Your Life Prime Time: How To Have It All Without Losing Your Soul).
Univision's national morning show ¡Despierta América! (Wake Up America!) was last year's award recipient. In 2007 Mexican lucha libre wrestler El Hijo del Santo (Son of the Saint) received the Environment award for his commitment to defend the oceans and battle the "enemies of the sea." Singer Emmanuel, was honored in 2006, as well Mexican soccer player Jorge Campos. The Mexican rock group, Maná, and actor Esai Morales received Hero of the Environment awards in 2005.
A schedule of "Fiesta del Mar" programs and activities, all included with aquarium admission, will be provided the day of the event. Included will be:
- The "Heroe del Medio Ambiente" award ceremony; at 2 p.m. on the Great Tide Pool deck.
- William Faulkner's soothing Jalisco harp throughout the aquarium from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
- Special guest musicians, MEXIKA, performing "Sounds of Ancient Mexico" in front of the Coastal Stream exhibit from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
- Traditional Aztec dancing group Yaocuauhtli on the Great Tide Pool deck at 12:30, 2:30 and 4 p.m.
- Select bilingual animal feeding and training programs at the Sea Otter (3:30 p.m.), Penguin (3 p.m.) and Kelp Forest (4 p.m.) exhibits.
- Family crafts and activities in the Discovery Lab from 12 - 4 p.m.
- A prize wheel booth; at the second floor entrance to the Outer Bay wing from 2 - 5 p.m.
- Seafood demonstration and sampling on the Great Tide Pool Deck at 1:30 p.m.
"Fiesta del Mar" is presented with in collaboration with conservation partner WiLDCOAST. For more information about "Fiesta del Mar," visit www.montereybayaquarium.org.
The Monterey Bay Aquarium has been inspiring ocean conservation for 25 years in 2009.
