Celebrating 40 years in style

By NICK YAMASHITA

The Progress

The celebrations for the annual Mesquite Days festival happened despite high wind warnings and an unfortunate incident at the carnival last week.
“The wind has affected attendance,” former city councilwoman Karen Dutkowski said.

Dutkowski who is a member of the Mesquite to Moapa Democrats organization, helped to arrange the first-time Cinco de Mayo activities to be part of the Mesquite Days celebration. This took place on Saturday afternoon.

A high wind warning was issued early in the week as wind speeds averaged about 13 mph and gusts up to 32 mph. The biggest wind impact was felt on Saturday afternoon and evening.

Even despite the weather, the celebration continued marking Mesquite’s 40th anniversary of becoming a city.

The carnival and vendor fair began on Thursday afternoon and continued straight through Saturday evening. There was plenty of fun with live music playing by local bands each night to entertain the crowds. The bands included Dealt-A-Straight, Off The Rails, Mesquite Cafe Blues, Dry Heat and the addition of a Mariachi as part of the Cinco De Mayo celebration on Saturday evening.

The Mesquite Days Parade commenced proudly at 10 a.m. on Saturday with little wind and beautiful weather.

It started with the Mesquite Veterans leading the parade carrying the U.S. flag as onlookers stood respectfully.

Jean Watkins, founder of the Mesquite Womens History and Culture Center, passed by in style next as the parade’s Grand Marshall.

Entries from local businesses, leaders, organizations; as well as political candidates; followed down Mesquite Blvd to the delight of the crowds lining the streets.

There was plenty to capture the kids’ attention. Candy was thrown from floats and parade vehicles in large quantities, while bubbles were flying around in the air.

Local groups included the VVettes, Bebrave Athletics, Daughters of American Revolution, Elks Lodge #2811, the Mesquite Showgirls and many others.

The parade concluded with the Mesquite Fire Department vehicles passing by with sirens blaring.
The Saturday festivities then continued at the lawn of the recreation center where the carnival was taking place.

Saturday being the day before the traditional Mexican holiday, the Cinco de Mayo celebration was a welcome edition to Mesquite Days.

It provided entertainment from DJ Fuego, piñatas and other activities for kids, cultural dance performances and a mariachi band.

Dances were performed by the Miss Cinderella Pageant Scholarship contestants under the direction of Cinderella Pageant Program Director Vanessa Solis.
“I am proud of the girls in learning their dance in just five practices,” Solis said. “Other than the wind blowing the performances and opportunities to share our culture, everything still went great.”
Music was later provided by Mariachi Paloma Azteca out of Las Vegas.

Stephen Blanco of Mariachi Paloma Azteca said the group met through community events. Since they all played instruments in high school they started playing and singing together about a year ago.

Angely Salazar of the band said they all graduated from local high schools in the Las Vegas valley and are of ages 18-28.

The mariachi attracted applause from all ages. The group even did a repeat performance on Sunday at Eureka Hotel and Casino to celebrate the actual holiday.
“We are very committed to presenting and preserving Mexican culture through this music,” Blanco said. “We have come together to work really hard not only to play traditionally but breathe some new life into mariachi music. There is a history of mariachi music in Las Vegas and here.”

But all was not entirely happy at the Mesquite Days event. Toward the end of the celebration, a carnival ride incident resulting in injuries occurred at about 10 p.m. on Saturday night, according to Mesquite Fire Department Public Information Officer Captain Spencer Lewis.

Lewis said that two children were injured as a result of one falling off the Ferris wheel at the carnival.

According to multiple witnesses a child fell out of a Ferris wheel seat falling approximately 8-10 ft and another child tried to catch her also becoming injured.

Lewis said one was transported to Valley View Hospital and then Sunrise Trauma in Las Vegas. The other was released to parents against medical advice but taken to personal choice of medical treatment.

Both were reported by the parent of one of the victims as being okay with minor to medium injuries.
An official investigation has been opened by the Mesquite Police Department. No cause of the incident has been released.
Due to ages of individuals involved, names were not released.