In its fourth year, ¡Fiesta Latina! at Western New Mexico University will run June 16-19. Throughout the four-day family event, attendees can explore Latin culture, rhythms, flavors and crafts at Regents Square on the WNMU campus, 1000 W. College Ave., in Silver City.
Tacking on an extra day to the university’s signature event, WNMU Cultural Affairs is expanding the opportunity for border communities to engage with their neighbors to the south through celebration and collaboration.
“We are aiming for a triumphant return with a full schedule of events,” said Alexandra Tager, director of Cultural Affairs at WNMU.
New to ¡Fiesta Latina! this year is a charro presentation by the Castro Family of Las Cruces on Sunday afternoon. The authentic Mexican horseman show boasts performers of all ages.
¡Fiesta Latina! again includes the artisan mercado featuring more than 30 traditional master artisans who travel from across Mexico to showcase their crafts on the Silver City campus. All art must be completely handmade, and vendors are chosen by jury selection process to ensure a variety of crafts like textiles, jewelry, pottery and copper ware.
¡Fiesta Latina! offers both free and ticketed events.
Events offered for free include: the new Thursday night welcome performance with Grammy award-winning mariachi Los Camperos and also performances throughout the weekend by Mariachi Plata of WNMU, Hit La Rosa from Peru, and Nohe and Sus Santos from Santa Fe. Also offered at no cost are artisan demonstrations, a curanderismo (Mexican healing tradition) lecture by Grant County’s own Athena Wolf and children’s crafting activities in the dedicated ¡Fiesta Latina! Children’s tent.
Requiring tickets are the fiesta’s Friday and Saturday night concerts featuring headliners Darren Cordova and Michael Salgado as well as openers Cuarenta y Cinco and Stevie D. Entrance to evening concerts, excluding Thursday’s show, will cost $35.
A $45 ticket to one of the tastiest ¡Fiesta Latina! events will allow connoisseurs to sip tastes of the traditional Mexican beverage distilled from the blue agave plant in handcrafted jarritos. Latin-inspired food trucks and the ¡Fiesta Latina! Stadium Bar will be open throughout the weekend.
Tickets, including $100 weekend passes that give holders access to all ticketed events, are available at fiestalatina.org. For more information, call 575-538-6469.
