SACRAMENTO, Calif. — If you’re looking for something fun and educational to do this weekend, you’re in luck. On Saturday June 8, Spanish-language school Casa de Español, Crocker Art Museum and other local organizations are partnering to bring Mexican culture-educational programs to people in the Sacramento area.
The organizations are inviting everyone to experience the magic of Oaxaca, México by participating in a week-long series of educational events that lead to the Celebrate OaxaCA Festival on R Street.
The overall goal of the event is keeping the Mexican culture and heritage alive, according to Maria Harrington, the founder of Casa de Espanol and one of the event coordinators. Harrington says the organizations want to have a collaboration with the new generations because Mexican art and culture are in danger of going extinct.
“Over the past five centuries, the number of indigenous people in the world has decreased. There’s no hiding that,” Harrington said.
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In fact, in a recent report, the United Nations highlights that the world’s indigenous population is in danger of vanishing, only making up less than 5% of the total human population.
According to historians, the danger is mostly due to indigenous people having to migrate to other countries like the United States. The U.N. says issues such as homogeneity and globalization, often lead some indigenous peoples' communities to be broken up through land theft. That loss of land means people often have no other option than to migrate to places in search of work and assimilate to the new country's language, customs and traditions.
During Saturday’s festival, several indigenous artisans from Oaxaca will showcase their traditional crafts with live demonstrations and hands-on workshops. There will also be food, drinks, and live Oaxacan music.
Other festivities include:
- Oaxacan performances by el Ballet Folklórico Mexicano de Carlos Moreno
- Oaxacan calenda-style street parades
- Kids art zone with free activities
- Street market featuring Oaxacan master artisans and local artists
- Artisan-led alebrije, textile and ceramic workshops are $5-15 to cover materials. Participants can sign up the day of the festival.
- Oaxacan inspired street food and drinks and cocktails will be available for purchase.
A total of nine different educational events are also being offered for free throughout the week. (The free events are listed here.)
Adult tickets for Celebrate OaxaCA will be $15 and $10 for kids at the door. You can also buy an early bird ticket before Friday, June 7 for $8.
The proceeds of the culminating family-friendly will help fund free family events at various schools and community centers throughout the Sacramento region.
The festival is from 3-8 p.m. at CASA de ESPAÑOL (1101 R Street, Sacramento, CA 9581).
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