Food trucks, live music and performances, and an ample selection of vendors enticed attendees at the second annual Fiesta Alameda on Saturday afternoon, November 4. The free event, held at the RADIUM Runway venue at Alameda Point and organized by the West End Arts District (WEAD), was a celebration of Latin culture, crafts, and entertainment.
“The focus is on making sure we represent our Latin community,” said WEAD Executive Director Tara Pilbrow. To that end, she explained, Fiesta Alameda 2023 was updated this year to shift away from being focused primarily on Mexican heritage and Día de los Muertos to a multicultural festival featuring a variety of Latin traditions, foods, music, and customs.
A wide selection of food offered a key piece of that cultural diversity. Eager to fill their stomachs on a variety of Latin fare, visitors joined long lines for the food stalls, which included Webster Street eateries Macondo Colombian Fusion and Calafia Taqueria, along with multiple local food trucks. Others explored the numerous vendors that offered everything from artisanal goods to jewelry and arts and crafts.
Curious shoppers were drawn to the hyperlocal flair of Jade Le’s colorful tote bags, graphic T-shirts, and especially the BART paper ticket stickers with local telephone area codes printed on them.
“Everything I make is through my love for the Bay,” Le enthused. She creates and embroiders her wares for her business, Lemonade51o. “It’s a good opportunity to be in the community,” she added, noting that the fall season typically means fewer chances to display and sell her work at large outdoor gatherings as the weather turns cooler.
All photos ©2023 Maurice Ramirez.
The open layout at RADIUM Runway allowed plenty of space for the festival’s diverse offerings, from craft vendors, food stalls and trucks to an outdoor bar, a kids’ crafting zone, and two separate performance spaces. Live bands, including Mio Flores’ SalSazz AllStars and Namorados da Lua, were among the popular selection of artists that offered visitors a chance to dance and sing along to upbeat Latin tunes.
Just past 1:30 p.m., all eyes were on Ballet Folklórico Costa De Oro as the troupe dazzled the crowd with a stunning display of Mexican folk dance. The synchronized dancers in brightly colored dresses and traditional attire transfixed the audience with scenes highlighting elements of Mexican history, culture, and identity.
Janelle, visiting Alameda from Fremont, found the performance “very beautiful and traditional.” She praised the festival’s effort in “bringing out different cultures” and offering a good selection of food and items for sale.
For the Paniagua family, the festival had great personal significance. “It’s great to have something like this here in Alameda versus Oakland or further away,” noted the elder Paniagua, who used to perform with Ballet Folklórico.
A younger Paniagua family member went even further: “Representation is important,” she said. “This is an opportunity for others to learn about different cultures. And it’s important for our generation to learn about our own culture, so that after we get older or get married, we won’t let those traditions die.”
Ken Der is a contributing writer for the Alameda Post. Contact him via [email protected]. His writing is collected at AlamedaPost.com/Ken-Der.
