TIFTON — A young woman who was a member of the original Girl Scout troop that organized the first Fiesta del Pueblo is taking the lead as president of this year’s festival planning committee because she believes it is a positive activity for all of the community.

Veronica Cervantes, now 25, works at South Georgia Banking Company in Omega. She was a member of Girl Scout Troop 115.

In 1994, the troop was organized to serve the children of Hispanic migrant farm families around Tift County. The Optimist Club and First Presbyterian Church of Tifton provided the initial financial support for the troop. A second troop was organized as interest grew among Hispanic families.

 In 1996, the troops decided to sponsor a community-based project to increase the awareness of Hispanic youth and their families. The First La Fiesta del Pueblo was held in Omega. In 1999, it moved to Tifton.

Cervantes and other members of the fiesta’s planning committee held a meeting Monday at Our Divine Savior Catholic Church. Cervantes aid that she is now a married woman with a child, but she wanted to work to keep the festival alive.

Cervantes said her parents have been involved with the festival “since Day One.” She said that the Guadalupe Cervantes Memorial Scholarship, which benefits an ABAC student, was named in her aunt’s honor. Her aunt was a teacher who died in 2000.

“Some of the earnings of the vendors pay for the scholarship in her name,” Cervantes said.

Cervantes said that she came to Georgia when she was a little girl and that it was difficult to be accepted in the community because she is Hispanic and a part of a minority.

“The Hispanic community looks forward to the festival,” Cervantes said. “It opens up various cultures to each other. It also diminishes some of the stereotypes of the Hispanic culture.”

Cervantes is also helping a children’s act get ready to perform during the Fiesta del Pueblo, which is scheduled for Sept. 25 at Fulwood Park.

Luz Marti, who is a long-time organizer and supporter of the festival, said that this year’s would be the 15th annual event, but the Fiesta del Pueblo wasn’t held last year because of a lack of funds and volunteers.

“I can’t let it die,” Marti said. “It has become a part of this community and people expect it to take place. We are excited that we have the younger people who want to get involved.”

Several performers have already been booked for this year’s event. Havana Son of Atlanta, featuring Cuban native Rene Herrera and his wife, Lillian, will play authentic Latin rhythms such as Salsa, Merengue, Cha Cha and Boleros. Mariachi Jalisciense of Quincy, Fla., have become well-known around South Georgia and will be making a return visit to the Fiesta del Pueblo. The four-musician group plays a variety of traditional Mariachi music from the stage and follows that with a strolling show around the park.

Los Matachines features dancers who wear colorful skirts adorned with Christian images, bells and noise-making beads worn over white clothing. The dancers, also known as the soldiers of the Virgin, carry gourd rattles and ceremonial bows and arrows as they perform an unusual dance. Azteca dancers wear elegant headdresses or “penachos” made with feathers and colorful costumes made from various fabrics and featuring designs and Aztec idols. Members of the group perform Aztec dances and rituals that have been part of the Mexican culture for generations.

Cultura Latina Dancers, students from ABAC who are enrolled in the CAMP and HEP programs at the college, will perform modern Latin dances.

Dina Willis, another member of the organizing committee, said more arts and craft vendors are needed for the festival as well as food vendors who sell something other than Latin American food. Willis also said that it is not necessary to speak Spanish to volunteer to help with the planning or to help on the day of the event. She encourages anyone to get involved because the festival “is for the entire community.”

Sponsors of the event include the Tifton-Tift County Tourism Association; Tift Regional Medical Center; Coca-Cola Bottling Company; Castro Cheese Company; Ole Mexican Foods; ABAC Arts Connection; the City of Tifton; South Georgia Banking Company; TMM Enterprises; and the Rotary Club.

Any individual or business that would like to get involved with the event, whether it be volunteering or a funding donation, may call Cervantes at 229-848-5270. More information about Fiesta del Pueblo can also be found online at www.lafiestadelpueblo.org.



To contact senior reporter Angie Thompson, call 382-4321.