Grupomania, a leading Puerto Rico merengue band, will be the star attraction at the Puerto Plata Merengue Festival that kicks off this coming Friday, 26 September in Puerto Plata City. Joining Grupomania are Dominican bands led by Jose Pena Suazo, El Prodigio, Rubby Perez and Kerubanda. Also participating are the merengue groups of the golden years of the 1980s, with Maria Diaz, Bonny Cepeda and Wilfrido Vargas. Vargas will be performing at the festival closure, commemorating his 40 years as a leading merengue composer-band leader. Brugal Rum and the Ministry of Tourism are sponsoring the 2008 Puerto Plata Merengue Festival. It will take place Friday through Sunday, 26-28 September at La Puntilla, by the Puerto Plata San Felipe Fort.