CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The cheerful sound of mariachi music, the smell of deep-fried tacos and the sight of lively folklórico dances filled the Depot Plaza on Saturday during the annual Cheyenne Hispanic Festival.
The day-long event was put on by Chispa of Cheyenne, a cultural organization previously known as the Cheyenne Hispanic Festival. Members also hosted free community activities around the city in the days leading up to the Sept. 9 festival, including a street taco tasting and salsa dancing lesson. “Chispa” is a Spanish word that translates to “spark” but also stands for “Cheyenne Hispanics Improving Strengthening Powerful Alliance.” The organization focuses on strengthening the capital city’s Hispanic community and providing educational opportunities for residents.
Hundreds turned up to the plaza to purchase traditional Hispanic food and drinks, participate in a raffle and watch the hourly festivities, which consisted of traditional dances from Las Angelitas Unidas Y Los Rayos del So, an El Grito contest and a jalapeño eating contest. In a blocked-off section of 15th street, people could also stroll through aisles of parked, flashy lowrider cars as part of the Capital City Club Car Show.
Also featured at the event were several local Hispanic-owned small businesses, like Raquel Ledezma’s Bead-iful Bracelets by Raquel. The first-time festival vendor sat inside a bright pink tent adorned with with rainbow papel picados and the Mexican flag, selling her homemade beaded jewelry. Her haul included green and gold bracelets with a charm of St. Jude, the patron saint of desperate causes, and dark blue bands displaying a Turkish evil eye charm, which is believed to protect against bad luck.
Ledezma and her husband are both from Mexico and have lived in Cheyenne for many years. She appreciated seeing the city come out to support the Hispanic community.
“It’s really nice to see everybody come together,” she said. “I’ve been living here for 15 years and I feel like now there are a lot more Hispanic people here in Cheyenne.”
Like Ledezma, lifelong Cheyenne resident Michael Raya doesn’t often participate in the annual festival. He decided to show up this time to see the Capital City Car Show, which his nephew is a part of, and stayed for the performances. Holding a cup of beer in one hand, Raya watched the Las Angelitas Unidas Y Los Rayos del Sol dancers and swayed to the beat of the mariachi music blasting from the speakers.
Raya’s father was from Mexico and established his own band and music services in Cheyenne. He played any genre of music, Raya said, but often played Spanish songs.
“I always heard this music growing up,” Raya said, gesturing to the mariachi music. “[My father] never taught us how to speak Spanish so we never knew what they were singing, but I loved the music.”
