With hundreds of booksellers, publishers, distributors and music label representatives along with thousands of members of the general public expected to attend, the 16th annual Expolit conference kicks off today and runs through Tuesday, May 20, at the Sheraton Miami Mart Hotel and Convention Center in Miami.

The largest trade fair in the U.S. for the Spanish-language Christian literature and music world is expected to draw more than 5,000 people a day to view the exhibits and attend the nine concerts, featuring many of the leading Christian Latino musicians.

This year's theme is "Algo grande viene" (Something big is coming). The Musical Parade for tonight will be aired live across Latin America for the first time via Direct TV on the Costa Rica-based Enlace network.

Another first will be an 80-hour Bible-Reading Marathon, featuring announcer Eduardo Julca of Life Publishers and other guest readers who will recite the Nueva Versión Internacional, the Spanish translation of the New International Version. Other than breaks at night, the reading will go nonstop from 5 p.m. tonight until 9:35 p.m. Tuesday, May 20. Expolit also will feature more than 23 first-time exhibitors, said Exhibitors Coordinator Wendy Rodríguez.

A series of evening concerts will feature a wide variety of music styles ranging from classical to reggaetón. The artists/bands due to appear include Aline Barros, Ingrid Rosario, Milton Valle, Contagious, Face to Face, Amalfi, Luigi Castro, Lucía Parker, Eddie Coronado, Leonardo, Vmusic, D'Novo, Eulises Cañada, Tom Brooks, Julio Melgar, Rodrigo Rodríguez, Amanecer, Kyosko, Rescate, Marco Barrientos and the Miami Symphony Orchestra.

Expolit will also provide a variety of training opportunities for people in the industry. Hundreds of booksellers and distributors will again attend the SEPA School for Booksellers, the School for Writers and a host of smaller workshops, seminars and sponsored events. In addition to affording the opportunity to conduct business activities, it also serves as a time for spiritual refreshment, fellowship and the exchange of ideas.

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