“Music in the Mountains Fest” takes on an international flavor this year with headliner Son de Cuba, an Afro-Cuban dance band founded in 1999 by Cuban native Joe Rothenberg-Lapaz.

The festival is set for Saturday, Sept. 27, at the American Legion Field (bring your chair or blanket,) at 171 Legion Drive in Waynesville. The fun begins at 4 p.m. and will continue until the last reveler is sated. Tickets are $6, which includes a barbecue dinner with beverage. Kids 10 and under are $3 and take out is available. For an additional $2 you can take unlimited rides on the “Super Slide,” and there will be art activities for the kids, and of course, dancing for everyone. In the event of rain, the festivities will be held at Central Elementary School.

Son de Cuba is making a name for itself by performing at festivals and clubs throughout Western North Carolina over the past four years, including appearances at the Orange Peel in Asheville and Founders Hall in Charlotte. They’re scheduled to appear as a headliner at Asheville’s “Fiesta Latina” on Oct. 4. Other upcoming dates include Davidson’s “Concert on the Green” series on Sept. 14 and the 13th Annual Latin Music Festival of Charlotte on Oct. 5.

Also appearing is ALIVE, a new-grass sound that combines elements of bluegrass, folk, and rock music. This fusion works off a platform that is based on their Christian beliefs. Led by Gary Price, they have an interesting mix of original material and traditional bluegrass.

“The Music in the Mountains Fest” is a fund-raising event for the Central Elementary PTO. Central is an A+ elementary school and has an open enrollment policy. For tickets or more information, call Central Elementary at 456.2405.