Posted on 08/26/2014 6:38:58 AM PDT by SoFloFreeper
Since the 1920's, actually. Sponsored by Kiwanis, they charge admission, search backpacks for booze, and drugs.
Back in the late 1970's when I lived there and worked as a state employee it was different. The governor gave us a half-day off that Friday noon (the weekend after Labor Day was fiesta weekend) and we went to Ft. Marcy park to picnic and drink Corona's on the grass. In the 1980's, as it was fiesta time, their were myriad friend's parties and open houses, usually with a view overlooking the park. Fiesta was fun back then, but then the druggies got involved and there were shootings during fiesta and it became less of a family-oriented affair.
In recent years, it has become less popular - admission was upped to $20 for adults and children were charged also. It was moved to Thursday night which was a problem with Friday as a school day. Attendance dropped and hip-hop/rap music replaced traditional Mexican/New Mexican mariachi music.
This year they have moved it back to Friday night, though not the same weekend as fiesta, dropped adult admission to $10 with children free. Hopefully it will start to return to its traditional entertainment.
When I first heard about it, I thought it WAS in New Mexico.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.