With Bellevue's response rate still lagging among some neighborhoods and population groups, the U.S. Census Bureau is pulling out all of the stops to induce people to fill out their questionnaires. To reach local Latinos, census officials have organized "Hispanic Fiesta Census 2010" at Crossroads Park on Friday.

The party, from 3 to 7 p.m., by the Water Spray Play Area at the park (999 164th Ave. NE) will feature performances by Stephanie y la Cruceña, Spanish rock band Africa Violeta and, last but not least, Mariachi Colima. 

Census Bureau partnership specialists who speak Spanish will be at Hispanic Fiesta Census 2010, promoted heavily on Spanish radio stations the last couple of weeks. Residents are encouraged to bring their questionnaires; partnership specialists will help them fill them out.

The census form went to households across the country last month. The aim is to count everyone living in the U.S. As of April 6, 63 percent of the people living in Bellevue had completed their census questionnaires. Response has been lowest in three areas -- downtown, Bridle Trails and Crossroads. Response Rate by Area

To make sure Bellevue's population is all accounted for, census workers are offering special encouragement to people often undercounted, especially those for whom English is not their first language.

Seattle Sounders FC and La Super Deportiva 1540 AM Radio are sponsors of Friday's fiesta, and autographed Sounders gear will be given way as part of a raffle.

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