When the Bulldogs host No. 5 Boise State at 6:02 p.m. today on ESPN’s national telecast, the Red Wave will observe Hispanic Heritage Month with the 3rd Football Fiesta featuring a Bulldog Marching Band musical tribute and a performance by the Fresno State folklórico dancers, Los Danzantes de Aztlán.

A tailgate party hosted by Lotus Fresno (La Buena and ESPN Deportes) begins at 3 p.m. in the White Lot (west side of Bulldog Stadium) with live music by La Pura Clave, a Fresno norteño music band.

The tailgate is free and open to the public. Food and beverages catered by Los Amigos Restaurant are available for $8 per plate, $5 for beer and $2 for soda and water.

Fresno State’s Football Fiesta partners also include Univision-KFTV 21, the Chicano Alumni chapter of the Fresno State Alumni Association and the Central California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

The Fresno State Marching Band’s halftime tribute to Hispanic Heritage Month will include performances by Mexican, Cuban and Mexican-American artists arranged by Bulldog Marching Band alumni Nick Estrada:

  • “El Son de la Negra”  composed by famed mariachero Blas Galindo of Mexico with a performance by the Fresno State Dance Team;
  • “Tragos De Amargo Licor” by Mexican-American musician, composer and songwriter Ramon Ayala  will feature the Fresno State Marching Band’s Color Guard;
  • “Mambo No. 5” by Cuban bandleader, musician and composer Damaso Perez Prado with the performance by  Los Danzantes de Aztlán, under the direction of Dr Victor Torres, chair of the Chicano and Latin-American Studies Department.

Univision anchors Sayra Vasquez and William Bonilla will provide introductions of the players and the Bulldog Marching Band in Spanish prior to the game and at halftime.

Other events at tonight’s game:

Bulldog Boulevard, sponsored by Fresno State’s flagship station, KMJ, begins at 2 p.m. This free pre-game fan experience in the Red Lot features family entertainment and food vendors.

“We Wear Red” game day shirts for the ESPN national telecast are available at The Bulldog Shop, open on game days beginning at 9 a.m. until kickoff. The Bulldog Shop also has four kiosks inside the stadium and one location at Bulldog Boulevard.

Fans can also stop in at Kennel Bookstore on campus, open until 5 p.m., for their Bulldog gear. Today’s Kennel game specials, in time for cooler weather, include Fresno State Centennial jackets for 40% off.

The student Dog Pound in the southeast corner will be hopping again as Athletics offers free sponsorship prizes for attending Fresno State athletic events.  Only eight points are needed to be eligible in the Dog Pound Student Rewards Program. And 5,000 red rally towels for the game will be provided by Game Sponsor Table Mountain (available while supplies last).

Traffic : Bulldog’s football game traffic on the north side of  the campus will be rerouted beginning at 3 p.m. when  Barstow Avenue  traffic will be directed one-way westbound between Chestnut and Cedar avenues.  At Cedar and Barstow, vehicles will be directed west on Barstow or north on Cedar. Drivers leaving lots on the north side of campus will be routed west to Cedar, or north on the Maple farm road to eastbound Bullard. Kickoff is at 6:02 p.m. (Barstow remains westbound only until the game ends, then is re-directed to eastbound only for traffic exiting the game). TRAFFIC INFO:  Amy Armstrong at 559.278.8400.