Imagine you’re planning a little get-together with friends. Casual food, some beer, music, a little dancing.
Now invite the whole city. That’s the St. John’s Fiesta.
Begun in 1980 as an effort to raise money for St. John's Church and then the “blue collar” needs of St. John’s School, the Fiesta has grown into a party for the whole city.
Photo by Clifton Rendón, courtesy of the St. John's Mexican Fiesta Facebook
From its beginnings with a boom box and shared food dishes in the basement, it now fills the St. John’s parking lot all day and features plenty of conversation, live Mexican folk dancing, several thousand tamales, and a whole lot of beer.
Photo by Clifton Rendón, courtesy of the St. John's Mexican Fiesta Facebook
It maintains its family flair, though, as the network of organizers are second or third-generation family members. Young adults who saw their parents and grandparents give hours to this cause now take their turn.
Photo by Clifton Rendón, courtesy of the St. John's Mexican Fiesta Facebook
Many of the original families, in turn, had bonded through living at La Yarda, the living quarters by the East Lawrence railroad tracks provided for them by the Santa Fe Railroad.
Photo by Clifton Rendón, courtesy of the St. John's Mexican Fiesta Facebook
The Fiesta now provides funding for the St. John’s school Spanish language program as well as scholarships for young Mexican students who wish to pursue education beyond high school.
You can experience Lawrence’s favorite block party when the Fiesta unfurls June 22nd.
