Artisan Mercado, Grammy-Winning Performers and Children’s Activities Highlights of Festival at Western New Mexico University

Silver City, NM – The third annual Western New Mexico University ¡Fiesta Latina! is slated to kick off on June 21, 2019, in Old James Stadium on the WNMU campus (1000 W. College Ave.).

¡Fiesta Latina! is a celebration of Latin culture through art, music and film. By hosting Mexican artists north of the border for this summer’s festival, WNMU aims to build global relationships and honor traditions by providing a weekend’s worth of activities and entertainment for families.

“We’re delighted to offer ¡Fiesta Latina! again. I hope the entire community turns out to enjoy the multitude of events,” said WNMU Assistant to the President for Cultural Affairs Faye McCalmont, who organizes the international festival each year.

In 2019, ¡Fiesta Latina! will again offer attendees an opportunity to get acquainted with ancient handcraft trades through demonstrations and the Transcending Borders film and discussion series. Forty vendors from all over Mexico will display and sell their handcrafted pieces at the Artisan Mercado, which will be open for extended hours this year.

Also returning for the third edition is a robust performance lineup. Headlining ¡Fiesta Latina! is Little Joe Y La Familia, a top Tejano band that imbues its sound with norteño, country, blues and rock-and-roll music. 

Additional musical acts will include the Naucualti Atlachinolli indigenous dance and drumming group, El Paso’s Frontera Bugalu and San Antonio-based singer and musician Azul Barrientos.

“The stage is moving to allow for more space to include a large dance floor, but we still expect tickets to Grammy-winning Little Joe Y La Familia will sell out quickly, so people interested in this show shouldn’t wait to secure their tickets,” McCalmont said.

This summer’s edition of ¡Fiesta Latina! promises other family-friendly activities, such as a huacha (washers) tournament and children’s crafts. Food vendors will also be onsite through the duration of the festival. 

“Everything at ¡Fiesta Latina! from the food to the games honors Latin tradition and culture,” McCalmont said.

General admission and parking for ¡Fiesta Latina! are free, although some events, such as evening concerts and the tequila tasting experience with handmade ceramic tequileros, do require tickets that can be purchased online or in person at the WNMU Cultural Affairs Office in Hunter Hall. Details about ¡Fiesta Latina! are available at fiestalatina.org.