Photo Credit: WNMU Members of K-Paz de la Sierra dance onstage with visitors to WNMU ¡Fiesta Latina!, June 7, 2025. The event, held June 5-8, drew visitors to the WNMU campus to enjoy music, food, film, dance and the artwork of dozens of artists from Mexico
DEMING – Western New Mexico University welcomed over 3,700 guests to its signature cultural celebration, ¡Fiesta Latina!, held June 5–8 on the Silver City campus. The annual event showcases the deep-rooted cultural connections between Mexico and New Mexico through artisan traditions, music, dance, and family-friendly activities.
Now in its seventh year, ¡Fiesta Latina! continues to highlight the richness of Mexican artistry and heritage. The centerpiece of the event was a juried artisan mercado, featuring the handmade work of over 30 skilled craftspeople from across Mexico. Visitors browsed a colorful variety of traditional items, including ceramics, textiles, leather goods, metalwork, wood carvings, alebrijes, and more.
Among the featured artists were Erika Ludmila Hernandez and her husband Salvador, whose modern jewelry incorporates Mata Ortiz pottery—a contemporary ceramic style influenced by ancient Mogollon designs. “My husband decorated the pottery, and I loomed the strap,” Erika explained while displaying a collaborative bracelet. “We buy Mata Ortiz pots and purposely break them to create the jewelry.”
Another booth featured Artemali Ojoxal, a collective of Indigenous women from Puebla who craft functional home goods from dried pine needles, including baskets, tortilla warmers, and magazine holders.
In addition to the artisan exhibits, Regents Square came alive each evening with a vibrant lineup of live entertainment. Friday night featured performances from Mariachi Plata de WNMU and Mariachi Estrella de México, while acts such as Las Cafeteras, Los Texmaniacs, K-Paz de la Sierra, and Luciane Dom kept crowds energized throughout the weekend. Traditional dance from Danza Azteca Unión y Conquista and a charro trick-roping show added to the excitement.
The four-day festival also included a fashion show, artist demonstrations, children’s craft sessions at the Silver City Museum, and a screening of the film Voces de Latinidad.
For many attendees, the event was both a cultural celebration and a summer escape. “The music looks really good this year,” said Lisa Lucero of Tucson. “I love coming to Silver City in the summer. The weather is hot this weekend—but not as hot as Arizona!”
WNMU’s ¡Fiesta Latina! continues to serve as a joyful celebration of heritage, artistic expression, and cross-border unity—drawing families and visitors from across the Southwest each year.
\n