Segerstrom Center to Throw Weekend of Free Parties This October

Segerstrom Center for the Arts is throwing three nights of FREE parties on its Arts Plaza, October 9 -11.

Adding to the mood and vibe of the Center's Latin Jazz Weekend on the same dates and National Hispanic Heritage Month, the plaza parties will feature dancing to music spun by DJ Ceazs Hernandez on October 9; LA's celebrated music group Son Mayor Latin Jazz Band, Hernandez and the hometown's own award-winning Costa Mesa High School Jazz Band on October 10; winding up with Hernandez and a Salsa Dance Party on October 11.

Each evening features a new set of Orange County's finest food trucks: Mustache Mike's, Piaggio On Wheels and The Burnt Truck on October 9; We Heart Froyo, Quesadivas and Ragin Cajun on October 10; and Buqqa Gourmet Food Truck, Dogzilla Hot Dogs and Scooter's Italian Ice on October 11.

Center President Terrence W. Dwyer said, "We always look forward to welcoming people from throughout Orange County to our Arts Plaza events. Whether dance events, concerts, Off Center Festival performances, World Cup Soccer viewings or Movie Mondays, it's great to see and welcome people from every corner of the county. As soon as we have completed the dramatic plaza enhancements recently announced, we will have these events year-round. The new plaza and the array of events we will be able to offer the community there are being made possible by a number of generous donors, in particular Julia and George Argyros for whom the new plaza will be named."

All performances on the Arts Plaza are free. Artists and program are subject to change.

SON MAYOR is one of the most popular and sought-after Latin bands in Southern California, rated the "Best Salsa Band" by LA weekly in its annual Best of LA edition. Their unmistakable vintage and contemporary Cuban sound captivates people from all walks of life, and fills the souls of those who seek expression through artistic movement. This high-energy band performs in premier salsa clubs throughout Southern California. Eddie Ortiz and his undeniable talent is the driving force behind the essence of Son Mayor, whose artistic style demands nothing less than perfection from his brothers Julian, Alfred "El Nino", Georgie and the rest of his extended family . . . the band. They have performed with such top artists as Chucho Valdez at the Hollywood Bowl, Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Los Van Van, Sonora Poncena, Oscar D'Leon, El Canario, Ozomatli, and Los Munequitos De Matanzas, as well as an exclusive audience for Jennifer Lopez's wedding in 2001 and an Arista Records after party for Clive Davis.

Costa Mesa High School Jazz Band, which has been under the direction of Sandy Gilboe for the past 25 years, is an active ambassador of the CMHS instrumental music program. This program includes three concert bands, marching band, two jazz bands, drum line, string orchestra and small ensembles, and currently has nearly 400 participants. The Costa Mesa High School Jazz Band performs regularly for concerts, school and community events, and has performed recently at Samueli Theater at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, at Orange County Fairgrounds and Don the Beachcomber. The group participants at the jazz festivals at Fullerton College and the Coronado (San Diego) School for the Arts, where they received recognition for outstanding soloists and superior performances. The Jazz Band is excited with plans to host its First Jazz Festival on May 7, 2016 at the new CMHS Performing Arts Center, making jazz music a vital part of music education for a new generation of students.

Segerstrom Center for the Arts applauds Kia, Official Automotive Partner of the Center and United Airlines, Official Airline of the Center. The Orange County Register is the Print Media Partner of the Jazz Weekend. KJAZZ is a Media Partner of the Jazz Weekend.

Segerstrom Center for the Arts is an acclaimed arts institution as well as a beautiful multi-disciplinary cultural campus. It is committed to supporting artistic excellence on all of its stages, offering unsurpassed experiences, and to engaging the entire community in new and exciting ways through the unique power of live performance and a diverse array of inspiring programs.

Previously called the Orange County Performing Arts Center, Segerstrom Center is Orange County's largest non-profit arts organization. In addition to its six performance venues, Segerstrom Center is also home to the American Ballet Theatre William J. Gillespie School, where students ages 3 - 14 are taught by acclaimed teachers utilizing the renowned ABT National Training Curriculum in studios utilized by the world's greatest dancers and choreographers.

The Center presents a broad range of programming for audiences of all ages, including international ballet and dance, national tours of top Broadway shows, intimate performances of jazz and cabaret, contemporary artists, classical music performed by renowned chamber orchestras and ensembles, family-friendly programming, free performances open to the public from outdoor movie screenings to dancing on the plaza and many other special events.

The Center's education programs are designed to inspire young people through the arts and reach hundreds of thousands of students each year. In addition to the presenting and producing institution Segerstrom Center for the Arts, the 14-acre campus also embraces the facilities of two independently acclaimed organizations: Tony Award®-winning South Coast Repertory and a site designated as the future home of the Orange County Museum of Art.

Segerstrom Center for the Arts is also proud to serve as the artistic home to three of the region's major performing arts organizations: Pacific Symphony, the Philharmonic Society of Orange County and the Pacific Chorale, who contribute greatly to the artistic life of the region with annual seasons at Segerstrom Center for the Arts.