STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK
Bilingual Loteria and a talk by renowned muralist John Zender Estrada will be among the events in the 6th annual Hispanic Heritage Month in Hailey.
The month will kick off with the first of four Cultura presentations hosted by the Hailey Public Library on Thursday, Sept. 14, followed by a Hispanic Heritage Month kickoff on Friday, Sept. 15.
The events are designed to celebrate Latin America culture ranging from Mexico to Peru to Colombia.
The events:
THURSDAY, Sept. 14
Community advocate Herbert Romero and dual immersion teacher Edith Lopez Millard will discuss Javier Zamora’s memoir “Solito” from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Town Center West on 116 S. River St. Zamora spoke to the community in July as part of the Sun Valley Writer’s Conference.
His memoir recounts his illegal migration as a 9-year-old boy from El Salvador to join his parents in the United States.
Local dancer Dirce Flores, a native of Mexico, will talk about the Guelaguetza festival in Oxaca, Mexico, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 21. Peruvian native Jessica Maynard, who works with Visit Sun Valley, will discuss the culture of Peru from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28. And musician Mauricio Molino Duque will discuss the culture of Colombia from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 8.
The free programs will be livestreamed on the library’s YouTube channel and archived to watch later.
“We’re particularly excited to launch Cultura, a series of talks by local residents who will share what they love about their homeland,” said Kristin Fletcher, the library’s programs director. “We’ll look at immigration and El Salvador through the lens of the remarkable memoir Solito by Javier Zamora. Then, Dirce Flores will share her love of Oaxaca and traditional dance. Jessica Maynard will introduce us to a UNESCO Heritage site near her hometown in Peru. We’ll conclude with violinista and educator Mauricio Molino introducing us to Colombia and Cali, its second largest city with rich musical traditions.”
THURSDAY, Sept. 14-Oct. 12
A bilingual StoryWalk featuring “Marisol McDonald Doesn’t Match/Marisol McDonald no combina” will be posted outside Town Center West. The picture book by award-winning writer Peruvian American author Monica Brown is about a young girl of Peruvian and American heritage who mismatches everything.
FRIDAY, Sept. 15
The Hailey Public Library will host the Hispanic Heritage Month Kickoff at Town Center West from 4-7 p.m. There’ll be music from the father-son duo Quinta Generacion; face painting, tissue paper flower making, games and pinatas for the kids; Bilingual Loteria with prizes and food available from Taqueria Al Pastor, with the first 25 meals free.
SATURDAY, Sept. 16
A day-long Hailey Hispanic Heritage Festival celebration will take place from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Town Center West. Live music will be provided by Huracan del Peru, Mariachi Acapulco, Crossing Ridge featuring the Jerome High School Folklorico dancers, Banda Xcorpion and DJ Regio. There will be bouncy houses, cultural arts and crafts, resource centers and Latin American food available for purchase.
El 6to Festival anual de Herencia Hispana en Hailey se llevara a cabo el 16 de Septiembre desde las 10 am hasta las 8pm en el Hailey Town Center West (Calle Croy).
Acompáñenos a celebrar nuestras culturas latinoamericana y mexicana y a reconocer nuestra contribucion en el logro de fortalecer la salud mental de nuestra comunidad hispana.
Habra juegos gratis, inflables, venta de comida, artes y manualidades, informacion, musica variada y diversion para toda la communidad. Para mas informacion, comunicarse con Romero (208) 309-5902
SUNDAY, Sept. 17
Muralist John Zender Estrada, whose colorful murals can be found in Hop Porter Park, the Bloom Community Center, La Cabanita in Hailey and Alturas Elementary School, will hold an art exhibit and lecture from 3:30 to 6 p.m. at Town Center West.
Estrada, who has painted large-scale murals in Los Angeles and elsewhere, will talk about his life work, artistic influences and the power of art to transform and heal. Translation services will be available for non-English speakers.
“We’re deeply honored to host the incredible muralist John Zender Estrada for a talk about his search for meaning, culture and well-being through art and to learn about Latin American arts in America,” said Fletcher.
Questions? Call Herbert Romero at 208-309-5902.