Unplug and Enjoy the 12th Annual Family Arts Festival on Sunday

Editor's Note: You can download a copy of the full festival schedule in the image carousel.

A colorful fusion of artistry, music, dance and theater will be on display this weekend during the 12th Annual Family Arts Festival at the .

The free event, which is hosted by Friends of Arts Education at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts (FAE) and the City of Cerritos,  is open to the public and will take place this Sunday June 5, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The full day of festivities will include more than 20 performances on three different stages showcasing a variety of cultures and acts ranging from interactive Shakespeare, a dance workshop, arts and crafts, story time for kids, a musical zoo, and much more.

Attendees will also get the opportunity to listen to the world premiere of Mariachi Tales, a series of stories presented by Award-winning playwright Jose Cruz Gonzalez.

Gonzalez, a resident of Cerritos and theatre professor at Cal State University, Los Angelesmerges Mariachi music with three unique stories -- two of which he has written himself. The third story is an adaptation of La Llorona, a classic Latin American scary folk story. With more than 30 plays under his belt, this will be the first time Gonzalez will try to incorporate Mariachi music into his work.

“Mariachi music is such a unique form of music and I have been waiting for the right time to marry both theatre and Mariachi,” said Gonzalez. “It’s a bit of an experiment for me but I am excited to see how it turns out.”

Audiences can also join the renowned LA Troupe in an interactive production of Shakespeare's Killin' Me, enjoy a performance by Jim Gamble Puppet Productions, and experience international music and dance performances by Shakti Dance Company. 

Aside from the many workshops and performances, event-goers can also try a variety of foods and participate in a raffle for a chance to win tickets to Disneyland.

The FAE and the city hope that families will take time this Sunday to unplug their television sets and computers, and instead enjoy a wonderful afternoon that celebrates culture and the arts.

“You could simply say that the Family Arts Festival is a multi-generational event where families can enjoy the arts together,” said Louzana Kaku co-chair of the festival.

For more information on this Sunday's festival, call (562) 916-1296. 

The FAE is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing education through high quality performing arts experiences.

"Our goal is to ensure that all children in our community have the opportunity to experience the educational power and transformative beauty of the performing arts," according to the organization.

The FAE was founded in 1993 on the belief that the arts are a vital and integral part of a child’s education. The organization immediately impacted the community by subsidizing 800 tickets for students to attend performances at the CCPA. Since it's existence, the FAE's roster of programs have flourished in quality and scope, serving more than 40,000 teachers, students, and families throughout Los Angeles and Orange Counties each year.