CROWN POINT | Reality hits the Lake County Fair this year when contestants vie to be the next "Latino Idol" and have a chance to perform and possibly win a moment of region-style glory.

The fair that runs this year from Aug. 6-16 will feature one day (Aug. 8) with a "Festival Latino," to be held in the grandstand of the fairgrounds.

Officials say they hope to get between 2,500 and 5,000 fairgoers to check out the Latino event that night.

The Hispanic Organization Promoting Excellence, which is affiliated with Lake County Sheriff Rogelio "Roy" Dominguez to help promote awareness of the need for continued education among Latino young people, will help to coordinate the event.

One local band, Los Cordoba, will perform that night, along with nationally known California-based band Tierra.

But the main event for some people could very well turn out to be the show that takes place before the musical acts.

It is being billed as "Latino Idol," and is meant to be a takeoff on those reality television shows that allow people of varying levels of musical talent to sing publicly.

"We're trying to identify the talent that does exist in the Northwest Indiana area," said David Cordova, a spokesman for the group organizing the "Festival Latino."

Not that just anybody can walk on stage that night and ask to perform. Cordova said that people wishing to perform at the county fair need to audition first.

Those auditions will be held July 24 at Chela's Authentic Mexican Kitchen, 3325 45th St., in Highland.

Anyone who wants to can show up at auditions, but judges will pick who they consider to be the five most promising performers from those auditions and those people will get to be the ones who sing at the county fair.

While it is not a hard-and-fast rule, Cordova said entrants are expected to be in the range of 16 and 27 years of age.

The "Latino Idol" program is scheduled to take place from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Aug. 8, with the winning act receiving a $1,000 prize. Second- and third-place acts will receive prizes of $500 and $250, respectively.

Aside from the $1,000, the winning act also may get scheduled to appear in a Chicago-area club, although Cordova said that portion of the prize has not yet been determined.