by 
Special to the Sun
St. Francis Church Fiesta Committee is well on the road to preparing for the community’s 35th Annual St. Francis Church Fiesta scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 13 and 14, on the church grounds at Church Avenue and Main Street.
A number of themes were considered for the Fiesta, but the theme selected for this two day event chaired, by Steve Lopez (689-5059) and co-chaired by Olga Lopez (520-827-4119), is “LIVE IN FAITH – VIVIR EN LA FE.” St. Francis of Assisi Church paster, Father James Aboyi, will be presiding over the Annual Church Fiestas Patrias. Father James, along with the Fiesta chairpersons, stressed that all members of the community are invited to attend the Fiesta with their friends and family as well as any out of town visitors.
Plans are under way for fund raisers which will provide seed money for this event. Patty Castaneda (520-827-9960) and her committee are considering a golf tournament for this purpose. Patty will continue the tradition she and her husband Joe began, and once again sponsor the car show held on Fiesta Saturday. Assisting her will be Mario Lopez (520-238-1353). Autos from Superior, from throughout the state and from various other states, are expected at the car show.
At this point in time, priority for the Fiestas Patrias is QUEEN CANDIDATES. Currently, only one young lady has stepped forward this year to vie for Fiesta Queen. Queen candidates are being actively sought and ALL young ladies of the local area ages 5 to 18 are strongly urged to consider being queen candidates. Candidates do not have to be members of the Catholic Church. Each candidate will receive a formal gown, a crown, shoes, a sash and 10% of the funds which they raise. Marcella Garcia is in charge of the queen candidates and their projects. She can be reached at 480-939-1313. Other available contacts for the queen candidates are Steve Lopez, Olga Lopez and the church office (689-2250).
The Fiestas Patrias will begin with a parade on Saturday, Sept. 13. Anyone wanting to have an entry in the parade can contact the church office at the number listed above.
Food booths will open at 9 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Games and other booths will open early in the afternoon. Tickets for all purchases will be sold at the fiesta grounds. Tickets for making purchases at the fiesta will NOT be sold prior to the beginning of the fiesta. Tickets for the annual Fiesta Fund Raiser will be the only tickets sold prior to Sept. 14. Winners of the fund raiser will receive $300, $150 and $75 for first, second and third places respectively.
VOLUNTEERS:
Presently, Fiesta volunteers include those noted above as well as: Fiesta games – Jessica Castillo (520-827-0098), Fiesta bank – Cindy Benson, menudo and coffee – the Alonzo Family (689-9142), cake walk – Stella Castro (689-5242), snow cones and nachos – Rosalie Padilla (602-882-3293), religious items – Jessica Castillo and Marcella Garcia (numbers above), cotton candy, popcorn, Mexican drinks – Kathy Sommers (480-510-5204) , empanadas – Velma Alvarado (520-827-0463), beer – The Red Barons, Burros – Irene and Bertha Navarro (520-827-0674), and hamburgers and hot dogs – Mike and Kathy Zavala (689-5629) and sodas – Andrea Kipp (602-717-7365) and Martha Guzman (689-2835). Entertainment will be chaired by Billie Jo Villaverde (480-532-0068). Master of Ceremonies for all of the stage programming will be Manny Guzman. The St. Francis Church Knights of Columbus (689-5629) will be taking care of setting up and preparing the fiesta grounds as well as packing up and cleaning of the grounds. Volunteers are still needed for the parade, corn on the cob, carne asada, games, crystal and others.
Donations of a monetary nature, products, supplies, or labor are much needed and will be very welcomed. These donations are tax deductible and the Fiesta Committee is providing the tax identification number to all those making donations. Those wanting to make donations or volunteer their time may use the numbers listed above.
The Annual St. Francis Church Fiestas Patrias have always been more than a fund raiser. The fiestas have been a local tradition for 3 decades and are viewed by its sponsors as a community event for all ages.
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