by Debra Alter -Starr Add “Tastes of Napa Valley Latino Heritage Month” to your list of what feeds your crush on the Napa Valley. The Valley’s connections to Mexico and Latino immigrants date back more than a century. In recent years, joyous fall celebrations of Latino cultural traditions have occurred throughout our community, but they are not always easy to find. I fell in love with Latino cultures after spending summers in Ecuador and Mexico. For years after locating to the Napa Valley, I read about these fall celebrations in the paper the morning after and ogled photo spreads of colorful Ballet Folklorico dancers, elegantly dressed men twirling lassos, and floor to ceiling altars from Day of the Dead celebrations. I wondered, “How did I miss this again?” I don’t miss out any more. I am now the director of Somos Napa/ We Are Napa, a bilingual website at www.somosnapa.org which catalogs Latino community events in the valley and more. As one of the coordinators of Latino Heritage Month, I am thrilled to share these seasonal treasures brought here by our immigrant neighbors who have helped build the Napa Valley into the internationally renowned desination it is today. Some of my favorite events are listed at the right. For more information about any of them, as well for a complete listing of all upcoming Napa Valley Latino Heritage Month events, visit www.somosnapa.org or our Facebook page, NV Latino Heritage. 70 www. n A PAVA L L E Y L I F Emagaz ine .com • September 2 – 30: Ellas—Latinas Making a Difference in the Napa Valley. Portraits of fifteen Latinas, photographed by five Latino photographers, will be on exhibit at Molinari Caffe in Napa. The opening night reception will be September 2, 6 – 8 p.m. More information at ellastheexhibition.wordpress.com. • Friday, September 13: Napa County Hispanic Network Scholarship Banquet. If you start attending this event regularly, you will, like me, become part of the warm, extended family of the Napa Valley Latino community. The crowd is cross-cultural and in high spirits—the proceeds help send Latino students to college. For more information: napacountyhispanicnetwork.com. • Sunday September 15: Mexican Independence Day Celebration in Napa. This event attracts thousands of people and includes the traditional El Grito, the crowning of the Queen of Las Fiestas Patrias, dancers, music, and more. It is held at Veterans Park in Napa. Fiestas Patrias are held in St. Helena and Calistoga, too. • Saturday, September 28: Ballet Folklorico de Napa. Napa’s own folkloric group returns to the Napa Valley Opera House for an evening of song, dance, and mariachis. There is whooping throughout the show for the talented performers, and Napa’s teen singing phenom Jackie Diaz, who belts out rancheras, is fantastic. • November 4 – 9: Day of the Dead Exhibition. Absolutely do not miss this event at the First Presbyterian Church in Napa! Over ten altars, all phenomenal works of art, share memories of loved ones who have passed away. Jose Hernandez, past president of Napa County Hispanic Network congratulates students at the network’s Scholarship Banquet Laura Valencia, of Napa Valley Hospice and Adult Day Services, host of last year’s Day of the Dead celebration in Napa Young participants in Ballet Folklorico in Napa This photo and top left photo by Oscar Vega Face painting was part of last year’s Day of the Dead celebration in Napa Celebrate
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