Mexican Fiesta puts new lid on 103rd year

NEW ROOF

We have a really good team. So we’re hoping with the shelter house being in good shape we can get back good numbers there because no one will have to leave. We also replaced some decking on the stage and did some painting. We’ve spent almost every dime.”

Angela Salazar, Fiesta Committee President

FORT MADISON – Mexican Fiesta president Angela Salazar is entering her final year leading the event, but she said this year has tremendous momentum.
The 103rd edition of the Fort Madison Mexican Fiesta kicks off Thursday afternoon and runs through Saturday night.
This year’s biggest improvement to the festival will be the new roof that has been installed and painted on the village’s shelter house. But the biggest get may have been convincing Burlington Northern Santa Fe to leave the vehicle deck on the BNSF bridge in Fort Madison open through the end of the week.
“That took about a week’s worth of reasonable conversations,” Salazar said.
“The gentleman was very nice and great to work with. They originally wanted us to change the date of the Fiesta, but that was a hard “No”. Then they worked with us and we were able to convince them to leave it open.”
The bridge has been undergoing repairs to the traffic deck and has been closed since the first week of August with the exception of the Tri-State Rodeo and now the Mexican Fiesta.
Ironically, BNSF was the organization that provided a grant to the fiesta committee to fund the new metal roof.
Salazar said the grant was for $10,000 and then the committee was able to secure some good deals on materials and labor to get the work done. The roof is painted in the Mexican flag colors of red, white, and green.
She said the roof was a critical improvement because during past storms attendees would get wet and leave the area which hurt beer sales. Beer sales account for the lion’s share of the committee’s revenue stream.
“This will take us into the 22nd century I hope,” Salazar said.
“We have a really good team. So we’re hoping with the shelter house being in good shape, we can get back good numbers there because no one will have to leave. We also replaced some decking on the stage and did some painting. We’ve spent almost every dime.”
She said she wants to make some strong applications for historic markers and street signs for the village.
“This is the oldest Mexican village in the state. We’re calling attention to that and we want to let people know that.”
This year will also feature a bicycle event where first responders will be on hand to fit helmets that will be given away to area children starting at 10 a.m. There will also be a bicycle parade and a rider’s course on Saturday.
Salazar said the dance troupe has the largest number this year than it has in quite awhile at 29 dancers.
Holy Trinity Catholic and Fort Madison second graders will be holding class in the village Friday beginning about 1 p.m.
“We’ll have about 160-180 kids coming down and they’ll have a program and art activities along with some snacks,” she said.
Music starts at 7 p.m. Thursday with Fidelio and then Crooked Cactus on Friday and Saturday.
Native Spanish speakers from Vera Cruz will be doing the national anthem on Friday prior to the annual royalty coronations.
This year’s platinum sponsors for the event include Two Rivers Bank sponsoring the Hospitality House, as well as Climax Molybdenum, Renegade Motorcycle Club, which sponsors scholarships for the queens, Shottenkirk Automotive Group, and DuPont.
Salazar said the whole street is going to be full of food and craft vendors – more than 20 total locally and from out of state. This year will also feature a Homemade Candy vendor. “We got a lot of great food. From Mom Knows to Sandra's out of Carthage. Carlitos. Our local businesses are represented very well on Avenue Q.”
The carnival will be put on by Gotcha Games and beer will be $5 with Happy Hour specials from noon to 3 on Saturday, where Salazar said she’s sure some games will be on in the shelter.
A burrito and jalapeno pepper eating contest will start at 1 p.m. Saturday with new 3-D printed trophies to the winners.
More information on this year's event can be found at the event Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/fortmadisonmexicanfiesta and the website at www.fortmadisonmexicanfiesta.com.