La Bamba in 35mm PG-13 at UCPAC

Thu Sep 18, 2025
7:00pm ET
Age: 13+
Price: $17 in advance/ $22 day of show
Location:
Union County Performing Arts Center
732-499-8226
1601 Irving Street, Rahway, NJ, 07065
Invite a friend Website

UCPAC marks Hispanic Heritage Month with a screening of La Bamba in 35mm. Starring Lou Diamond Phillips as Richie Valens, La Bamba tells the story of the brief life of the young American Chicano star who influenced Latino rockers like Carlos Santana and Los Lobos.

Valens is best known for his rock n’ roll adaptation of the classic Mexican folk song La Bamba.

At just 17 years old, Valens sadly passed away in a 1959 plane crash that also took the lives of Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper, and the pilot, Roger Peterson. The incident was the inspiration for singer/songwriter Don McClean’s 70s classic American Pie and became known as “the day the music died,” but the songs Valens left behind will live forever.

Join us on UCPAC’s Main Stage after La Bamba for a dance party celebrating Valens’ music and other Latin rock and pop hits by the artists he inspired.

 

** Activity dates/times are subject to change. Please click through to the activity website to verify.