Numbers down, but spirits still up at celebration

A celebration of Hispanic heritage would not be complete without a mariachi band. Knowing this, co-sponsors of this year’s gala, the Greybull Arts Council and BOCES, had contracted the band Mariachi De Mi Tierra Utah for Saturday’s event.

Plans went awry when the band’s van broke down when they were just six hours away; they could not get here.

Planners did manage to contact a DJ on “super short notice” to play Mexican music. At least, said one of the organizers, “it wasn’t a ‘silent’ event.”

Every thing else went as planned. Vendors provided delicious food, there were beautiful items on the craft tables but the cazuela raffle will continue for several more weeks due to the low attendance.

Highlight of the day was the crowning of this year‘s   La Reina de la Feria Ispana, Maliyah Porras. Her attendants were princesses Edith Aguilar and America Aguilar-Fernandez.

Dee Robertson of the Arts Council said, “All in all we were pleased with how it went, all things considered. We had planned for more people than we had show up, but it still went well. With a band, there would have been much more activity in general. I am just very thankful for the community people who were able to  come and enjoy what we did have going on, support the vendors and the La Reina contest and the cazuela raffle.

“We will hold the celebration again next year for sure. Good mariachi bands are not that common in our area so we have had to contract with bands from quite a distance from us; that always has its risks, as we found out this time. The Council thinks that it is important to bring this form of music to our small community and BOCES has been very supportive of this community event as well.”