Lively mariachi music echoed through Legion Park as the sun set behind the trees on Friday, signaling the start of the Woodburn’s Annual Fiesta Mexicana.

The crowd cheered as the lead singer of Mariachi Goldwhich means golden light, sang an interpretation of “Cruz De Madera”, wooden cross, to the melody of bright trumpets and string instruments.

The mariachi band is comprised of Woodburn High School graduates and was formed through a shared passion for the Mexican style of music. This cultural appreciation and celebration was the focus of the three-day festival, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary.

Running Friday through Sunday, the festival celebrates Mexican culture in Wooburn with live performances, food and craft booths, carnival rides, soccer tournaments, Lucha Libre or wrestling, and a parade. The community event gives the area’s growing Latino population a chance to engage with their heritage and bring people from all walks of life together.

A significant portion of Woodburn’s community is Latino, making up over 60% of the city’s population in 2020, or 16,020 of its 26,013 residents. according to the censusThis population has grown steadily since the 1960s, when many came here to work in agriculture.

As we looked around the park on Friday night, it seemed like the whole city was there. Kids were having fun on the rides and playing soccer. Teens were eating mango slices and dancing to live music. Families sat at picnic tables watching the performances and sharing plates of tacos purchased from the vendors at the event.

The event attracted nearly 30,000 people to the park, said Rev. Luis Molina, senior pastor of Woodburn Foursquare Church.

“That’s what we’re known for – that it’s a safe place for families,” Molina said. “No one is excluded, everyone has the chance to participate.”

Molina, a member of the Woodburn community for 30 years, was deeply honored to be named Grand Marshal of the 2021 Festival Parade, especially since he is the first Guatemalan to receive this recognition.

He was an important member of the community, serving in the church, as a volunteer chaplain for Woodburn First Responders, and was an enthusiastic member of the community. He supported improvements in the town such as the construction of a soccer field, for which he raised funds and helped build.

“About 20 years ago, I became more of a shepherd for the community,” he said. “Last year we had a huge wave of Guatemalans coming into town… so we don’t have church on the fourth Sunday of the month. We have a parking lot with food and music. That’s how we build community with the Guatemalans.”

Whether over a soccer ball or a taco, they can connect without having to understand the language, Molina says, pointing out that the immigrants speak a dialect that is not understood everywhere.

Molina’s work in the city is felt by community members who come to the Fiesta Mexicana, a cultural event appreciated by many who grew up in the city.

Irene Rodriguez Estrada, the 2024 Festival Queen, has fond memories of the annual event, which she regularly attended as a child.

“I remember feeling like I was at home,” Rodriguez Estrada said. “And then I came here and saw how everyone shares the same culture. We are building a bridge between our community and Mexican culture. And I thought that was so beautiful to see.”

As a member of the Fiesta Court, Rodriguez Estrada was part of a leadership development program with workshops on professionalism and public speaking that helps 11th and 12th grade students from north Marion County high schools make a difference in their community.

“I’ve been coming here since I was a little girl, with my parents and sisters,” said Rodriguez Estrada. “For as long as I can remember, it’s been my dream to be on the court.”

Following in the footsteps of her older sister, who was crowned Festival Queen in 2019, Rodriguez Estrada is excited to inspire younger generations to get involved in education and leadership.

This year marks the largest Fiesta Court yet, with 10 members from the county and the first male member of the Court. The program is just one of the annual traditions that have continued to evolve and adapt since the Fiesta Mexicana, which began 60 years ago as a harvest festival organized by the community’s farmers and workers.

“I think we do this in part to continue to convey our culture and our traditions to our younger generation,” said Marciela Guerrero, community relations manager for the city of Woodburn. “I think sometimes it’s easy to get lost, but this is really something that’s going to continue to be here.”

The annual festival celebrates the community’s culture, language and diversity and will continue to be a staple in Woodburn for years to come, Guerrero said.

“I’m excited for the community to come together and celebrate, celebrate who we are as Woodburn, what we have here, the diversity that brings these cultures together,” Guerrero said. “This is an open and welcoming thing… come and learn and participate.”

The Woodburn Fiesta Mexicana will be held on Saturday, August 17, from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday, August 18, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Legion Park, 1385 Park Ave., Woodburn. woodburn-or.gov