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3 bands highlight annual Fiestas celebration

Hobbs will be in full celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month and Mexico’s Independence Day Saturday with flamenco dance performances and Spanish-music concerts.

In downtown Hobbs, the Lea County Center for the Arts will host its 2017 Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration with a flamenco dance performance from Albuquerque-based National Institute of Flamenco’s professional dance company called Yjastros. The performance is planned from 3-5 p.m. at the Center for the Arts, 122 W. Broadway.

“For the past two weeks, including this week, we have the National Institute of Flamenco instructing 21st Century students at Southern Heights Elementary,” Andrew Akufo, LCCA executive director said. “That’s going to lead to a performance Saturday. We’ll have both the professional performance as well as a performance by the students. (The National Institute) they’re going to be bringing down a few dancers, a singer and a guitarist. It should be a phenomenal performance. We’re excited about it.”

Admission is $5 at the door. The performances are free for students under 18 years old, Southern Heights Elementary 21st Century Community Learning Center parents and LCCA members. The Hispanic Art show at the Center for the Arts will also be open to the public to view.

Elida Reyna Y Avante

The LCCA is partnering with the Hobbs Hispano Chamber of Commerce Foundation to keep the celebration going Saturday with an outdoor concert featuring a mariachi band and two Tejano groups during the 8th Annual Fiestas de Septiembre.

The concerts are planned from 6-11 p.m. at 113 N. Shipp St. and are free to the public.

“We have a mariachi band out of Las Cruces called Mariachi Alma de Jalisco and then we have Elida Reina y Aventa,” said Oscar Gonzalez, Hobbs Hispano Chamber of Commerce Foundationboard president. “Then the main one is Intocable.”

Mariachi Alma de Jalisco

Gonzalez said about 3,000 to 5,000 people attend the Fiestas de Septiembre each year and said food vendors and a kid’s area will be available.

“It’s always a concert,” Gonzalez said. “We’ve tried all kinds of combinations of Tejano and Norteño bands. We recommend (people) bring their lawn chairs. We’re going to have some bleachers against the wall but it’s very limited. The money we raise from our sponsors we use it for scholarships.”

Akufo said celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month and 16 de Septiembre, Mexico’s Independence Day has been a success in Hobbs.

“We want to showcase all different aspects of art and cultural arts play a big part of it,” Akufo said. “We have a large Hispanic population here in Lea County and we definitely want to make sure we have something to serve that population. This is something that has been very successful for us.”

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