Latin-American street festivals on LI

Long Island's Latin-American street festivals are something you can understand, even if you don't speak Español. You aren't likely to find zeppoles, bouncy rides or cover bands, but instead the flavors, music and traditions of Latin America.

Almost 20,000 people are expected to munch El Salvadoran-style grilled corn, sip tamarind juice, dance along to stage performances by artists visiting from El Salvador, Mexico and Honduras, and buy goods such as imported clothing and fine art.

Here's a guide to what you'll find at the "ferias" (that's Spanish for fairs).

"Most of the community is Salvadoran and Honduran, and a little bit from Guatemala, but Nicaragua and Panama are also represented in the parade," says fair coordinator Noemi Lutin, who owns a travel agency in Hempstead. Lutin says the event is a "traditional family day" -- no alcohol is sold inside the festival grounds.