PHOTO ESSAY: Annual Spanish Fiesta a Big Success

Viva la Fiesta!

If you weren’t down at the Archuleta County Fairgrounds Saturday July 29 along with several hundreds of others (we estimated the crowd at over 600 participants), then you missed out on the highly anticipated 21st Annual Spanish Fiesta, put on by the Spanish Fiesta committee of Archuleta Seniors Inc.

A group of over 20 different families came together week after week for the last 6 months to rekindle the fondly-remembered Pagosa Springs Spanish Fiestas after a 20 year hiatus from the community.

According to one of the original fiesta leaders back in the day, Patricia Martinez Lopez, “the Spanish Fiesta was started in 1982 by Ms. Marquez, Lucy Gonzales and the Gallegos family (Stella and her sisters), then they were rained out. The next year, in 1983 when the oil field shut down in Grand Junction and I was laid off, I came home to Pagosa to start over and I took over the fiesta (because that’s how I was back then). The reality is that all the credit for starting the fiesta goes to the first group of people who worked so hard only to have their efforts washed out by the rain.”

Thank goodness this year we only had to deal with a short wind burst that lasted long enough to take down a few of the talented vendors set up at the fiesta selling beautiful arts and crafts by Hispanic families and local businesses from Pagosa and throughout the region. The fiesta grounds opened at 2pm and guests started arriving early to grab food, beverages and check out the vendors before the dance performances which started sharply at 3pm. The emcees for the 21st Annual Spanish Fiesta were the distinguished Archuleta County Commissioner Veronica Medina and Ricardo Martinez, Director of Archuleta Integrated Healthcare who facilitated the event in both English and Spanish.

First on stage were a group of girls and women from Durango, Colorado called Durango Ballet de Folklorico. They started off the afternoon with 45 minutes straight of dancing that reflected various regions throughout Mexico and then some modern dance takes.

Up next on stage were past Spanish Fiesta royalty Toni Gallegos and Crystal Young who are helping spearhead working with the community to shape the future royalty experience. All past royalty were acknowledged for their contributions and were asked to stand. The Spanish Fiesta Committee looks forward to reviving this important aspect of the event that involves youth and families in helping to sell tickets to the fiesta as part of their royalty experience.

Next on stage were local favorites Los Mitotitos who continued the afternoon with high energy and music to get the crowd dancing and moving through the five o’clock hour. After a brief intermission the distinguished Dr. Frances Chavez MD took to the stage to share about her being one of the first recipients of a Spanish Fiesta scholarship in 1984. She shared about how the first ever Spanish Fiesta scholarship was instrumental in her pursuing her dream to attend University and becoming a family physician so she could help her family. She reminded the crowd that part of the funds that were raised for the 21st Annual Spanish Fiesta go toward supporting the Intergenerational Fiesta Hispanic & BIPOC (black, Indigenous, and people of color) youth fund scholarship that will fund five $1000 scholarships to Hispanic & BIPOC youth in Archuleta County in 2024.

The evening continued with much jubilation when Al Hurricane Jr. took to the stage at 5:30 pm for his first set. The crowd was rocking and rolling with folks of all ages taking to the dance floor.

Up next we had a group of local youth from Pagosa Springs dance folklorico before Al Hurricane and his band took to the stage for a second and then a third and final set when the evening wrapped up at 9:30pm.

Archuleta Seniors Inc. is so grateful for all of our sponsors and volunteers. Archuleta Seniors Inc and the Spanish Fiesta Committee look forward to bringing more cultural programming to the Pagosa Community that celebrates the rich diversity of Archuleta County.

If you are interested in being part of our Spanish Fiesta Committee please contact Spanish Fiesta chair and Archuleta Seniors Inc Executive Director Rose Chavez at 970.264.2167 or [email protected].

Rose Chavez is Executive Director for Archuleta Seniors, Inc. and Public Health Consultant at Archuleta Food System/Food Equity Coalition.