CROOKSTON, Minn. — The first annual Fiesta de Crookston, an event celebrating Latino culture, was something Marissa Barnett had always wanted to do, she said.
Barnett hopes the festival will not only bring the area’s Latinos together, but also bring more culture to the community.
“This is a community event that’s open to everyone, so we hope to see you all there,” she said.
Fiesta de Crookston will be held on Tuesday, July 9, from 4-8:30 p.m. on Second Street in Crookston. DJ Robotico will be playing music, food trucks including El Gordito, Tacos by Mi Madre and Side Street Bar and Grill will be serving food, and there will be games and prizes such as Mexican bingo (loteria), piñatas, a taco pizza eating contest for adults and a churro eating contest for kids. The event was organized by the Downtown Crookston Development Partnership (DCDP) with the help of a subcommittee of local Latinos, said chair Shirley Iverson.
Iverson said DCDP is focused on revitalizing the downtown area. Changes in consumerism have caused the downtown area to move away from small shops to a completely different culture, with changes in services and vibes. DCDP wants to make the area more accessible to the public and highlight the historic buildings and the entire downtown area, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. The group is working on several projects, including a project with the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota Department of Transportation to revitalize the look of the downtown area, as well as renovating the campground and a new bathhouse at a local RV park.
DCDP also hosts other events throughout the year: On July 25, the Grand Theatre will celebrate its anniversary with a production of “Purple Rain”; a Halloween event will highlight the building’s history and hand out candy; and in January, the Grand Theatre will host “Broadway at the Grand,” streaming Broadway musicals.
As a new event, Iverson said Fiesta de Crookston will showcase the Latino population in the area and acknowledge their presence as friends and neighbors.
“It’s always fun and challenging to start something from nothing,” she said.
Barnett said there are few cultural events in Crookston other than those hosted by the University of Minnesota, and that in order for the community to grow, it needs to become more inclusive. Fiesta de Crookston is a first step, and she hopes to continue the event and others in the future. Barnett’s husband is Native American and her children are mixed race, so she said she wants to host an event that celebrates Indigenous culture.
“I have loads of fun ideas in my head for next year’s (Fiesta) and we’re even thinking about expanding it,” she said.
Otto is a community reporter for the Grand Forks Herald.
