MATANZA NEWS

The Española Community Matanza Board presents the 3rd Annual Española Community Matanza “A feast of cultures: where the past meets the future”.

The free event will be held from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday, May 4 at the Northern New Mexico College campus in Espanola.

“We use this “feast of cultures” of entertainment, food and fun to build a bridge and close the gap between the many wonderful cultures that exist in our beautiful Espanola Valley and Northern New Mexico. We stand on the foundation of unity and look forward to doing our part to sustain our future of Northern New Mexico!” Ralph Martinez, the festival leader said.

Festival offerings will include traditional dancers from the Pueblos of Ohkay Owingeh and Pojoaque, a selection of live music, a lowriders car showcase, and a variety of children’s activities. Additionally, there will be a salsa competition and softball tournament with prizes. Food vendors will present traditional offerings from Hispanic, Indigenous and Sikh cultures that celebrate the diverse cultural traditions of the Española Valley.

The Matanza, which regularly has an attendance of over 1,000 people, brings the community together by sharing a feast of food and cultures, while promoting a strong sense of giving back. It is made possible through an all-volunteer planning committee and the generous monetary and in-kind donations by local individuals and businesses. A majority of the proceeds are donated to the local community. This year, proceeds from the matanza will be dedicated to scholarships for Northern New Mexico college students.

Matanza meals are priced at $10 per person (including a drink). The menu includes: Beans, Chicharrones, Carnitas, Tostadas, Papas, Calabacitas, Red & Green Chile Tortillas and More. A kids menu is also available for $5.

This year the “Sustainable Futures” coalition has partnered with the Matanza to bring an environmental focus to the festival to amplify the inherent benefit from protecting the air, land and water in business by advancing clean, renewable energy, especially solar power. The group will be bringing solar power to the event, coordinating recycling, as well as showcasing positive organizations and businesses in the local area that are building support for a sustainable economy for northern New Mexico. “The collective impact and inclusive design of this event will help to build and sustain our communities”, says Roger Montoya, event collaborator.

Sustainable Futures is hosting a community mural painting around our vision for a sustainable future, as well as nonprofit information tables, environmentally-friendly technology stands and solar power demonstrations. They are actively recruiting art and education projects that promote clean energy and sustainable technology and good stewardship practices for our land, water and air, ranging from electric vehicles to water catchment systems.

“By helping to provide a platform for these activities that are already happening in our community, we hope to bring a new level of awareness to the opportunities available to grow our local economy which also reflect our values for protecting our environment” says Cris Caltigarone, CVNM Education Fund’s Northern New Mexico Organizer.

The event is run by the Espanola Community Matanza board, Sustainable Futures coalition members, including CVNM Education Fund as the coalition sponsor, Rio Arriba County, Northern New Mexico College, Jemez Mountains Electric Cooperative, Moving Arts Española and Positive Energy Solar, as well as numerous sponsors (see below list).

The Matanza features:

• Sustainable Futures Art & Educational Expo
• “Dunk a Leader” Dunk Tank
• Multiple Extreme Inflatables (Kids & Adults $10 All Day Wristbands)
• Live Art Project w/ Toby Morfin, Cruz Lopez, Diego Lopez and More. (community is encouraged to join)
• Matanza Salsa Competition (ecmatanza.org/salsa)
• “Show & Shine” Lowrider car showcase
• “Baxterland” kids games and fun tent Sponsored by Del Norte Credit Union
• Organizational Booths
• Vendor Booths
• Softball Tournament Sponsored by Zia Credit Union.
• And MORE!

Schedule of Events

12 p.m.         Opening Ceremonies

1 p.m.           Buffalo Dancers from Ohkay Owingeh & The Pueblo of Pojoaque Youth Hoop                        Dancers

2 p.m.           Sikh Dharma

3 p.m.           Louie Moya y La Gente

4 p.m.          Matanza Man and Woman of the Moment Award

4:30 p.m.     Matanza Salsa Competition Awards with Chef Fernando Ruiz

5 p.m.          Award Winning, Chris Berry

6 p.m.         NMHMA Award Winning, Grupo Divino

7 p.m.         Perfect StrangR

Premier event sponsors are Century Bank, Guadalupe Credit Union, Food Venture Center/CLPC, New Mexico, KDCE Radio, Northern New Mexico College and Jemez Electric Co-operative.

Other sponsors are Alicia Fine Jewelers, Center Market, City of Española, City of Española Police, Cooks True Value, Del Norte Credit Union, E&E Sports, Española Chamber of Commerce, Farmer’s Insurance, Garcia Tires, Gils Rental. Gino’s Atlas Gym, Hacienda, Hands Across Cultures, Henry Valencia Inc., JoAnn’s Ranch O Casados, Los Alamos Police Department, PMI, Point S Tires, Project RACE, Pueblo Electric, RAC-STOP, Rio Arriba County, Rio Arriba County Sheriff, Stop & Eat, Triple S, Walden Inflatables, E and E Sports, Presbyterian Hospital and Zia Credit Union.