Celebrations are being planned in all Latin American countries in honor of independence from Spain and Portugal. This year, such a celebration, called Fiestas Patrias, is being planned in Gering.
The community is invited to celebrate the valley’s Latino culture during Fiestas Patrias on Saturday, September 17.
“This is an annual celebration,” Valeria Rodriguez, a committee member who helped organize the event, told the Star-Herald. “The reason why we celebrate this event is because it is the independence of different Latin American countries.”
Mayra Heeman, a committee member, said there were discussions about the event’s name and a desire to include every Latin American culture.
“In Mexico it’s called Fiesta de Independencia, but it’s only Mexico. When we started thinking about doing this, we thought we couldn’t isolate other countries,” Heeman said. “When we call it Fiestas Patrias, it includes all Hispanic countries.”
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A similar event was organized in 2017, but it was on a smaller scale. Rodriguez and Heeman worked with a committee of four other women to organize the event on a larger scale with live entertainment, games and a parade.
The event will celebrate Hispanic diversity through food, art, music, dance and traditions. The festivities begin with a parade down 10th Street in Gering. Line up begins at 1:00 PM at Gering High School. The parade will begin at 2 p.m. and end at Oregon Trail Park Stadium.
“Get front row seats,” Heeman said. “I know some of the cruises get very elaborate. They really put a lot of work into it. They are bringing some dancing horses. It’s going to be amazing.”
Anyone interested in participating in the parade can contact Mary Ann Shockley at 308-672-4517.
After the parade, the public can enjoy a variety of activities from 3-7pm at Oregon Trail Park Stadium.
“We called it Fiestas Patrias in celebration of the independence of all Latin American countries and it’s also the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month,” Rodriguez said. “Here in Scottsbluff, the diversity of our Hispanic heritage is changing. We just want it to be a day of teaching our community and embracing the diversity of our Hispanic community that is here in our community.”
The public will enjoy BINGO games, bounce games, a car show, presentations about historic sites and local businesses in the area, vendors and informational booths from local organizations. Prizes will be awarded to the winners of the BINGO games.
Heeman said the celebration of Fiestas Patrias is rooted in the culture of the countries.
“Fiesta Patrias has more of a cultural background for us,” she said. “This is really the celebration of independence that we have in Mexico.”
The month of September is a patriotic holiday in all Hispanic countries for independence.
There will also be live entertainment with performances by Adrenalina Musical and Los Guadalupanos, highlighting dances from different regions of Mexico. After Fiestas Patrias, the community is invited to attend an evening performance by Los Sembradores from Durango, Mexico. They will dance at Mi Sinaloa Restaurant, located at 310 M St. in Gering at 8 p.m. Tickets are $50 and can be ordered in advance or purchased at the door.
“A lot of our community members are extremely excited about this group because we have a lot of community members from Durango, Mexico,” Rodriguez said. “This band and this kind of music really hits home for them.”
Empowering Families, La Poderosa, Western Nebraska Pioneers and Los Guadalupanos are sponsors of the event.
