Wickenburg celebrates Fiesta de Septiembre
August 24, 2011Posted: Saturday, August 20, 2011 2:15 pm
East Valley Tribune.com
Fiesta de Septiembre recognizes Wickenburg’s early Hispanic pioneers and kicks off Hispanic Heritage Month in Arizona.
The fiesta recently was named one of the official events for the state’s centennial celebration by the Arizona Centennial Commission.
The 23rd annual Fiesta de Septiembre is from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 3. The free event is indoors and outside of the Wickenburg Community Center, 160 N. Valentine St., in the heart of the historic district. The Wickenburg Chamber of Commerce sponsors the heritage event each year.
Events scheduled during the fiesta include a special Hispanic pioneer families photography exhibit; entertainment throughout the day with two mariachi bands, Mariachi Corazon de Phoenix and Mariachi Alegre; folklorico dances by Ballet Folklorico de Santa Maria; and music by Phoenix’s Barrio Latino.
This year, a session called “Cuentos” will have participants sharing their stories, and a booksiging for the newly published “Wickenburg Pioneer Hispanic Families: ‘Nuestras memorias’” will take place.
Outdoors, there will be a mercado, with arts and crafts booths offering a variety of merchandise and food. In addition, a no-host margarita and cerveza cantina will serve drinks throughout the day.
The “Kids Zona” program is scheduled throughout the day, where children learn how to make Mexican crafts.
Other activities include:
Viva Margarita! contest, where contestants concoct their favorite recipes and compete for prizes. Another event is the annual salsa and guacamole contest, where contestants create their favorite recipes for prizes and the People’s Choice Award. Contact the chamber for participant form.
The event is sponsored in part by Arizona Public Service, the Wickenburg Sun, Desert Caballeros Western museum, Arizona Office of Tourism, Crescent Crown Distributing, the Town of Wickenburg and Compadres of Fiesta de Septiembre.
For information, call the chamber 800-942-5242 or www.Wickenburgchamber.Com.
