We can only imagine that the first Fiesta, held
on August 17, 1933...began with a vision
in mind. That vision encompassed not only the
maintaining of our Mexican culture, but too
continuing the growth of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Parish. The church was started in 1914. By 1921, a
modest school was built and by 1953, funds from
Fiestas were used to build a more expansive school
to house increasing student enrollment. Fiesta time
became the link that connected our past to our
future.
| Fiesta Bells, 1933: 1st Row: Nina
Valadez, Lisa Valadez, Josefine Gomez
Moreno, Victoria Lerma Morales,
Antanacio Corona 2nd Row: Lalita Valadez,
Enriqueta Martinez Flowers, Socorro
Llamas Ramirez, Felipa Del Hierro
Granado, Nettie Del Hierro Serna,
Antonia Mosqueda, Jennie Cornejpo,
Hermelenda Vargas, Teresa Cruz, Jovita
Cruz 3rd Row: Mary Vargas, Piedad
Cornejo, Alex Gomez Alcala, Agnes
Vargas, Romana P. Balandran, Carmen
Gomez Perez, Sabina Martinez Terry 4th
Row: Augustina Lopez Gomez, Tillie
Martinez Gonzalez, Mary Lopez Oliva, and
Josefine Llamas Not pictured: Grace
Renteria Charay, Natalia Renteria, Nate
Morales> |
Into our 78th year,
Fiesta Mexicana has grown tremendously through the
decades. Initial Fiestas were small events, held
tightly within Topeka’s Mexican barrio. Parishioners
and extended family were the only attendees and food
items were cooked from the home and brought to the
church grounds to sell. Entertainment was local with
the emphasis on music and dances from the homeland
of Mexico. Ask a longtime parishoner what “memorias”
come to mind from past Fiestas, and the answers
would be as colorful as the event itself. Children
relishing the many flavors of raspas (snow cones).
Youth mischievously cracking cascarones (confetti
eggs) over a friend’s head. The sound of gritos
(Spanish for a long shout of happiness) to ranchero
or corrido music played. All the sites and sounds
recalled on those warm summer nights…
Now, the expanse of
Fiesta Mexicana has gone from a quarter of a block
to a teeming several block area. Current planning
for each Fiesta follows closely on the heels of the
one just concluded. It is not unusual for Fiesta
volunteers to plan their vacations to be taken
during this “big week” or for former Topekans to
re-visit Kansas solely to attend our annual event.
Since that time of 1933, countless changes have
occurred - from adding a professional carnival,
welcoming all types of vendors, participating with
area businesses and bringing in the highest level of
Latin entertainment. We have stages of rich
entertainment, more variety, more food and
definitely more fun! While culture and tradition
have continued to be the backbone of Fiestas, we
have opened our arms to the wider community, state
and country by seeking creative ways to highlight
our longevity and showcase our changing pace.
We feel strongly about what our Fiesta (past and
present) has to offer. As you browse through our
website, we hope it entices you to come visit…
it is
well worth it!
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