Fiesta Guide

P.O. Box 2670

Las Vegas, NM 87701

505-425-6796

www.lasvegasoptic.com

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EDITORIAL /CONTENT

Editor: Phil Scherer

GRAPHIC DESIGN/LAYOUT

Maria French-Sanchez

ADVERTISING SALES

Sales Representative: April Morell

Advertising Coordinator: Cynthia Fitch

Director of Sales: Jade Lewandowski

COVER

Design: Maria French-Sanchez

Photo: Courtesy from the City of Las Vegas and New Mexico

True Tourism Department

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720 University Avenue, Suite B

Las Vegas, N.M. 87701 505-425-6796

www.lasvegasoptic.com

optic@orourkemediagroup.com

Las Vegas Fiestas Our mayor’s welcome

Bienvenidos a Las Fiestas de Las Vegas Grandes. For centuries, Las Vegas, New Mexico has been a gathering place for everyone from all races, creeds, and cultures.

From the times Native Americans called this sacred land home to the arrival of Spanish settlers to the arrival of the railroad and Jewish merchants who fostered a strong economy and built our main streets, Las Vegas continues to be a welcoming community.

This community belongs to all who live here, the city belongs to people who visit, and all are welcome on this sacred land we call Las Vegas, New Mexico.

When we celebrate the Fiestas, we celebrate the richness, strength and resilience of our precious Northern New Mexico people.

Las Fiestas de Las Vegas son como tocando la guitarra de la tierra de Herencia in Northern New Mexico.

Se llena la plaza vieja de Buena gente que representa lo rico de la humanidad con un abrazo de Amistad.

¡Que viva el cuatro de Julio!

Louie Trujillo Mayor, Las Vegas NM

Las Vegas Fiestas

Celebrating the Meadow City

It’s the event people in Las Vegas and around the state wait for every year. It’s one of the greatest celebrations in this entire region. It’s Fiestas de Las Vegas. Sure, other towns have Fiestas, but no other place does it quite like Las Vegas, and that’s because the history and tradition in this town are hard to match. People have been coming to this event for their entire lives. They came here with their grandparents, and now they bring their grandchildren, enjoying the parade, the outstanding musical acts, the fantastic food vendors, the fireworks display and everything else this one-of-a-kind experience offers. This is the destination city in New Mexico every year around the Fourth of July, and that will never change.

For people who have never been here to enjoy our Fiestas, it might be difficult to explain what makes them so special. It’s a large group of people having a shared experience in a place where everyone feels welcome. Everyone feels the joy coming from the performers, the vendors and the organizers. You can feel the history and tradition of northern New Mexico and Las Vegas in everything that happens. You can feel the nostalgia from everyone in attendance as they think back on how things used to be, and how they still are today. There’s a reason this event has continued to be as popular as it has been forever, and it all comes back to sharing joy throughout the generations.

Whether you live here in Las Vegas year-round or just come back for this event, I hope you have a fantastic time and see what makes Fiestas and Las Vegas truly great.

Phil Scherer Editor, Las Vegas Optic

Parade Grand Marshal

Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernandez

Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernandez serves New Mexico’s 3rd Congressional District. Leger Fernandez will be the grand marshal for the July 1 Fiestas de Las Vegas parade.

Teresa is a daughter of Las Vegas. Teresa went from Head Start and West Last Vegas High to Yale University and Stanford Law, and now in Congress she is delivering for New Mexico communities like hers by holding the federal government accountable for starting the largest wildfire in our history, protecting our veterans, and securing funds to keep clean drinking water flowing throughout New Mexico. She is the proud mother of three children.

In her first term in Congress, Teresa

secured federal investments to provide more New Mexican families, farmers, and ranchers with clean water across her district - from Gallup to Clovis. She is bringing infrastructure investments to New Mexico that will support more good-paying jobs, from rebuilding our airports, roads and bridges, to plugging abandoned wells, to expanding rural internet access, and she passed her Hermit’s Peak Fire Assistance Act to get $3.95 billion in federal compensation for the communities impacted by the wildfires. She is fighting to make sure those funds get to the families and communities who need them.

She serves on the House Committees on Natural Resources, Education and Labor, and the House Rules Committee.

Las Vegas Fiestas A longstanding tradition

Fiestas festivities were not always commemorative of the Fourth of July, celebrations have occurred in multiple forms since the birth of Las Vegas in 1835.

Historically, the Fiestas began as a tribute to the religious feast days of St. Santiago y Santa Ana which were held in late July. In the early days, the festivities were lively and colorful with dancing, displays of horsemanship and family reunions.

Reunion has always been a Fiestas theme; Las Vegas became the home to Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders Reunion, which, for many years, was held on or near the Fourth of July. Las Vegas will always be the official Rough Rider home, “to the last man.” To this day, the Fiestas include dances, enter -

tainment and music resonating throughout Plaza Park and Bridge Street. Fiestas would never be complete without a dose of royalty; every year “La Reina” graces the Fiestas and a reception and dance is held in her honor. The present-day celebration remains not only genuine to Fiestas heritage, but also offers new ways to celebrate with family and friends, and opportunities to make new friends.

Once again music will fill the air, families, cowboys, veterans, old and new friends will gather, laugh, share stories over a meal and pass the tradition and fun to new generations.

The Fiestas offer a time to revisit history, travel down old trails of celebrations past and create new memories and new adventures in Fiestas present.

City of Las Vegas Fiesta Fun Run

Las Vegas Optic

Registration is underway for the 2023 Las Vegas Fiesta Fun Run.

This year’s event, sponsored by the City of Las Vegas, will take place Saturday, July 1, 2023 at 6 a.m. with check in and run at 7 a.m.

The following is the route along Hot Springs Boulevard and N.M. 65 to the Old Town Plaza Park.

• 10 K run will begin in Montezuma Pond, finishing at the Plaza Park.

• 5K run and walk will begin at the San Miguel County Fairgrounds finishing at the Plaza Park.

• Children’s run for ages 13 and younger will go from Plaza Park to Mills Avenue and back to the Plaza Park, this run will start at 8:30 a.m.

Registration fee for adult event is $10 (first 100 get a t-shirt). Registration fee for the children is $5.

Registration is available at the Abe Montoya Recreation Center, 1751 N. Grand Avenue.

For more information, contact Charles R. Griego, Event Planner/ Film Liaison, City of Las Vegas Community Development at (505) 454-1401 Ext. 1604, or Loretta Abreu Martin at 505-454-1401 ext. 1904.

2023

FIESTA SCHEDULE

All events are at the historic Plaza Park and are free. Schedule is subject to change.

Activities / Entertainment

Saturday, July 1 Fiestas Mariachi Extravaganza

Veterans ceremony

Welcome visiting royalty Plaza Park

a.m. - Noon Mariachi Mass

Our Lady of Sorrows Church

Mariachi

2023 Fiesta Schedule (cont.)

MONDAY, July 3

Fiestas Traditional

11 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. Amistad

Noon - 12:45 p.m. Michael Rascon

1 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. Daniel Solis

2 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. Ana Maria

3:30 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. Jonathon Chavez

4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m. Sangre Joven

6:15 p.m. - 7 p.m. Wild Country

7:15 p.m. - 8 p.m.

8:15 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Peter Vigil and the All Star Band

Tequilla Rain

Dusk Fireworks (Weather permitting)

New Mexico Highlands University

Gene Torres Golf Course

Broadcasted live on The Bull KBQL 92.7 FM, Groovin Oldies KMDS 107.1 FM, Mix 96

96.7 FM & KNMX 540 AM & 99.9 FM

TUESDAY, July 4

Fiestas Traditional

Noon - 12:45 p.m. Gabriel Serna Jr.

1 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. Chris Arellano

2 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.

Los Martinez Brothers

3 p.m. - 4 p.m. Plain Jane

4:15 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Gonzalo

5:45 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Abe Garcia

6:45 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Nathanial Krantz

Farewell from La Reina 2022

Amanda

Bustamante

Iwould like to express my gratitude in saying that it was my honor to be your 2022 Reina de Las Vegas Fiestas.

During my reign, I learned so much about my city and the amazing people who run the city. From the Mayor (Mr. Trujillo), City Manager (Mr. Maestas) to the Councilmen and Councilwoman, (Mr. Ulibarri, Mr. Romero, Mr. Montoya and Mrs. Casey) to the funny and nice people at the Transportation Department (Marcelino, Tiffany, Josh, Valerie and Ray) and to the man who plans all of our events, Chuck Griego.

Our city and city departments are run by amazing people that have taught me so many things over the course of this year, and it makes me more confident and happy with the way I see the City of Las Vegas.

I am beyond grateful to have represented our city this past year with the support from many people and I want to give them all a quick thank you!

Thank you to Chief Salazar and all of his Police Officers and CSA’s, Chief Spann and all his Firefighters, Krystle King for always answering my questions when needed and always supporting me. My family, especially

my mother Anna Bustamante. Sangre Joven for always dedicating songs to me and making sure I felt welcomed, and to the family of Rosita Ellis. I dedicate with honor my role as Fiesta Queen to the memory of Rosita Ellis, as I sign out with love.

Amanda Bustamante 2022 La Reina de Las Vegas

Parade

When: 9 a.m. Saturday, July 1

Where: Parade starts at Second Street and Mills Avenue and ends at Plaza Park.

Route: South on Second Street, west on Baca Avenue, south on Sixth Street, west on Douglas Avenue, north on 12th Street, west on Bridge Street to the Plaza. Lineup begins at 6 a.m.

Please have valid driver’s license, registration and proof of insurance available.

Traffic and Parking

There will be no parking in the Plaza Park area starting at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 29, through 10 p.m. on Tuesday, July 4. Public parking will be available at the City of Las Vegas Utilities Department parking lot on 12th Street.

ROAD CLOSURES:

1. Bridge Street at Valencia / Paseo De Las Escuelas

2. Valencia / North Gonzales

3. North Gonzales / Plaza Park

4. Valencia / Hot Springs Boulevard

5. Morrison / West National

6. Moreno / South Pacific

7. South Gonzales / Moreno

8. Historic Plaza Park

One–way directional flow: West on Valencia from Bridge Street to New Mexico Avenue. East on Moreno Street from New Mexico Avenue to Paseo De Las Escuelas to Bridge Street.

ADA or Handicap Parking: On South Gonzales and Moreno and behind the West Las Vegas Schools Administration Building (3-4 spaces)

2023 La Reina Candidates

Jackie Romero and Mia Marquez are this year’s candidates for Fiesta Queen. The pageant will be held on Friday, June 30, 2023 at 5:30 p.m. at Ilfield Auditorium. Tickets are $5 and may be purchased at the door.

Jackie Romero

Mia Marquez

Fireworks Safety

The city is holding its municipal fireworks display this year at dusk on Monday, July 3, at the New Mexico Highlands University Golf Course on Mills Ave. Listen along to this year’s fireworks display on the following stations: The Bull KBQL 92.7 FM, Groovin Oldies KMDS 107.1 FM, Mix 96 KMDZ 96.7 FM & KNMX 540 AM & 99.9 FM

If you decide to light your own personal fireworks. Here is a list of safety tips from the Las Vegas Fire Department.

Once you know which legal fireworks to buy, follow these practical fireworks safety tips designed to keep you, your family, friends and pets safe. To start, the safest way to enjoy a fireworks display is to visit one put on by professionals who are trained to handle the fireworks safely:

• Consider your pets when planning to light fireworks. If you have a pet that may chase a fast-moving target, or a pet that will be frightened, put them in the house to keep them safe until the display is over.

• Don’t assume you know how to use the fireworks. Read the directions and warning labels. If there are no directions or warning label, don’t use them.

• Don’t carry fireworks in your pocket.

• Don’t drink alcohol and light fireworks.

• Don’t let children light fireworks unless under supervision. Boys between the ages of 10-14 are injured more than any other age and gender group. In general, 40 percent of people injured by fireworks are children under the age of 14.

• Don’t light fireworks indoors.

• Don’t light fireworks on or near dry grass.

• Don’t shoot fireworks off in a glass or metal container.

• Don’t throw fireworks at people.

• Don’t wear clothes that are loose-fitting.

• Fireworks should be kept in a cool, dry place.

• For the sake of child safety, only children above the age of 12 should be allowed to handle sparklers.

• Keep a bucket of water or a fire extinguisher handy.

• Keep spectators at a safe distance.

• Once you light the firework, move several feet away from it.

• Light only one fireworks device at a time.

• Use only fireworks legal in your area.

• Purchase fireworks from a reliable dealer.

• Wear safety goggles while lighting fireworks.

• When a fireworks device fails to go off don’t stand above it to see what’s wrong. Douse it with water and dispose of it. Don’t try to relight it.