LAWRENCE — Some lucky, young woman will be crowned Miss Hispanic Week 2009 tonight.
Eight local teens, age 15 to 20, will compete for a chance to represent their Latino heritage at the 31st Hispanic Week festival, which kicks off June 12 and runs through June 21.
The pageant will be at Guilmette School, 80 Bodwell St., starting at 6 p.m. Tickets are $10.
Vying for this year's title are: Elisa Rodriguez, 18, of Methuen High; Naed Morales, 20, a student at Ana Maria College in Paxton; Elizabeth Loranzo, 18, and Anabel Primiterio, 17, both of Lawrence High; Karina Castro, 18, Samantha Garcia, 17 and Lenis Perez, 15, all of Central Catholic.
The queen will make appearances at all the festivities and ride in the parade, which will culminate the weeklong celebration.
"Hands United for the Future," is this year's theme.
Junior Miss Hispanic Week 2009 was crowned May 23. Roseli Rodriguez, 13, a student at Timony School in Methuen, was the winner. She also will be at the festivities, which celebrate the cultures of Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Peru, Guatemala, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Haiti with music, dance, art and food.
The festival ends with a carnival at Campagnone Common and a parade.
Here's the schedule of events:
VIP dinner, June 12, 6 p.m., Wyndham Andover, 123 Old River Road, Andover. Tickets are $50.
Haitian and Guatemalan nights, June 13, 7 p.m., locations to be announced.
Mexican Night, June 14, 7 p.m., at Mi Mexico Lindo restaurant, 6 Pleasant St., Methuen.
Peruvian Night, 7 p.m., location to be announced.
Colombian and Ecuadorian nights, June 15, 7 p.m., locations to be announced.
Salvadorian Night, June 16, 7 p.m., location to be announced.
Puerto Rican Night, June 17, 7 p.m. Pemberton Park
Dominican Night, June 18, 7 p.m., Pemberton Park
Carnival, June 19-21, Campagnone Common.
Parade, June 21, 1 p.m. led by grand marshals Dolores Calaf and Jack Fitzpatrick.
