The Third Salsa Festival kicks off Wednesday at Havana’s Metropolitan-Almandares Park with the performance of Cuba’s main popular music bands.

Set to run Feb 21/25 at Havana’s Metropolitan-Almandares Park and Comodoro Hotel and following the success of the two previous editions, the event is presided over by young Cuban musician Maykel Blanco, director of the Salsa Mayor orchestra. The popular Cuban dancing music festival is scheduled to include from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. music and dance workshops, street dancers parades, concerts and variety shows, as well as DJs from Cuba, Italy and France.

As of Thursday, Feb 22, Havana’s Metropolitan-Almandares Park will open its doors from 9 p.m. for audiences to enjoy concerts by some of the main salsa orchestras in Cuba, including the emblematic and famous Los Van Van, Will Campa, El Niño y la Verdad, Paulo FG y su Élite, Adalberto Álvarez y su Son, Pupi y los que Son Son, Alain Pérez, Haila, Alexander Abreu and Havana D’ Primera, and Maykel Blanco and Salsa Mayor. The gathering’s closing night will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the popular Cuban band Manolito Simonet y su El Trabuco. The Salsa Festival is sponsored by the Carnival Enterprise and Havana’s Culture Division, the enterprises Artex, Cuba’s largest record company –EGREM-, and the Cuban Music Institute.