San Luis Rio Colorado to mark 100 years
4-day celebration begins June 21
SAN LUIS RIO COLORADO, Son. — This city will treat residents and visitors from the Yuma area to local history lessons and entertainment beginning Wednesday in a four-day celebration of its 100th anniversary.
The Fiestas del Centenario, organized by the city’s government, features presentations by local historians, a live performance by Grammy and Latin Grammy winner Lupillo Rivera, as well as performances by musicians from around the city.
All events are free and open to the public in the celebration that marks the arrival on June 21, 1917, of Carlos G. Calles, a captain in the Mexican army sent by the government to establish a military and agricultural settlement.
Fiestas del Centenario gets underway at 8 p.m. Wednesday in a formal ceremony on Calle Cuautemoc (Cuahtemoc Street), on the city’s west side, during which city leaders will officially recognize descendants of the original 20 families that settled the area.
Also on Wednesday, Sonora’s three branches of government will convene in San Luis Rio Colorado, as the city is designated as state capitol for a day as part of the celebration.
Rivera, known for songs in several different genres of Mexican music, is scheduled to take the stage at 7 p.m. Thursday in an outdoor performance on 3rd Street just south of the border. Admission is free.
The same stage will serve as the site at 7 p.m. Friday for Noche de Piano (Piano Night) and at 7 p.m. Saturday for a performance by Mitosis, a rock and ska band from San Luis Rio Colorado.
Teatro Rio Colorado, a performing arts theater at Avenida Madero and Calle 30, will host a historical symposium at 9 a.m. on Thursday, during which historical researchers from both sides of the border will speak on regional history topics. Participating from Yuma will be Carol Brooks and Jorge Figueroa.
For more information, visit the Facebook page for Centenario de San Luis Río Colorado.