Celebrate annual Peñasco fiestas, enjoy carnival
High school athlete named fiesta queen
Fiesta time is approaching for many communities around our state of New Mexico. In Taos County the people in the Peñasco area are busy preparing for their annual fiesta – Las Fiestas de Peñasco y Comunidades del Sur del Condado de Taos. The celebration begins Friday ( June 14) and runs through Sunday ( June 16).
The Martinez family will once more be hosting the Carnival, which attracts the gathering of people in the area. This event has been going on for over 100 years. This year, the fiesta will be missing a very important person-Erick St. Andre, the organizer ever since Armando and Bertha Martinez passed away. He passed away in May. Erick had much energy and loved to travel from California to Peñasco to comply with his grandparents’ wishes. It was always a joy to work with him and see him and his wife, Bobbie Jo, join the parade every year.
La Reina de Las Fiestas this year is 17-year-old Adrianna Tafoya, a senior at Peñasco High. She has a winning smile that draws people to her. Her plans upon graduating include joining some branch of the military and also to continue studying science. She would love to return and be able to serve her community in some capacity.
Adrianna is a dedicated athlete. She started participating in cross-country when she was an eighth-grader. Her first year as a runner she placed eighth in the state; second year she placed seventh; in the 10th grade she improved her time to sixth place. In her junior year, she was out of cross-country due to injuries. She has participated in volleyball, track and baseball. This friendly senior has been a star player for the Peñasco High School girls basketball team. Adrianna was named all-district basketball player this year. She has also been named Taos County Basketball All-Star two years in a row. Adrianna has also had time to be involved in other programs such as Environthon, Big Brothers Big Sisters, mentoring elementary students, and the National Honor Society.
Adrianna was selected to represent Peñasco High School at New Mexico Girls State at Eastern University in Portales this year. She will spend a week with hundreds of junior girls from throughout the state learning how government functions. She will be able to campaign and run for an office of her choice.
Adrianna said she loves sports because athletics have taught her to be responsible and become a more sociable individual. She has learned life lessons that have helped her in school and home environment. Through this she has been given the gift of bonding with family and friends.
Adrianna is the daughter of Elena Tafoya from Peñasco. She is thankful to have her grandfather, David Tafoya, supporting her also. She proudly says he has been a father figure for her and her sisters, Merly-Renae and Martina. She hopes her three nieces will love sports as much as she does. Her grandfather was a star basketball player in his high school days, sporting the number 15 on his jersey, This is the reason she chose this number for her basketball jersey.
The Princesa de las Fiestas this year is Evangelynn Sandoval from Rio Lucio. She is the daughter of Eloy Sandoval and Genevive Montoya. Evangelynn is a fourth-grader at the Peñasco Elementary School. She is a member of the young drill team headed by teacher Davina Lucero. These young ladies performed an outstanding dance at the Girls State Basketball Tournament in Río Rancho. They also had many performances during basketball season.
The crowning of the queen and princess will be Saturday night (June 15) after 7 p.m. mass at San Antonio de Padua Church in Peñasco. The Marcha de las Reinas will follow at the Martinez Hall. There will be rides and games of all kinds so everyone can enjoy. Victor, Barbara and all the Martinez family invite the community to come out and have a memorable time. Bertha’s Spot will be serving delicious hamburgers and other food. People can sit in the old hall, listen to music and rest your feet. The Knights of Columbus will be at the usual spot fixing their delicious green chile burgers and more. This is a community affair – everyone benefits by cooperating with each other. Natalie’s Summer Harvest will be open serving their incomparable fare.
Joleen Romero, the 2018 Fiesta Queen, will be crowning these young ladies. Joleen is the daughter of the late Leroy Romero and Julia Romero from Rio Lucio. She graduated from Peñasco High in May.
The Fiesta Parade will take place on Sunday beginning at noon. All interested in joining be at the school grounds no later than 11 a.m. The community is grateful to Victor and Barbara Martinez, Ronnie and Liza Mascareñas, Sylvia Vigil and the Knights of Columbus for helping pay the parade insurance required by law. Special thanks go out to the Peñasco schools also for allowing all floats to gather at the school grounds year after year. The fund gathered by the queen and princess will benefit St. Vincent de Paul Society to help those who need help in our communities.
Call (575) 770-1621 for information.
Gracias y que vivan las fiestas!