THE FIESTA is held each year in September, on the Saturday nearest to Mexican Independence Day in historic Miami Arizona. The Town of Miami, located 75 miles East of Phoenix on US 60, is a copper mining boomtown that was started in 1909 and quickly became home to over 10,000 miners and their families. THE FIESTA Saturday Sept 16th, 2006 FUN - FOOD - ENTERTAINMENT _ Live Music, Dance Groups, Raffles, Vendors, Beer Garden World Famous Chihuahua Races, Salsa contest, Piņata Break-Contest THE FIESTA HISTORY: In the early 1950's, the Fiesta was going "full blast" as a celebration to commemorate The Independence of Mexico. The Latino Club of Globe and Miami sponsored this Fiesta. Its purpose was to make the Hispanic population of the area aware of its roots and colorful heritage. Unfortunately the Latino Club disbanded and the Fiesta was gone. In 1997 the mayor and some of the citizens were discussing the Fiesta. It was then that it was revived with Mayor Jose Sanchez as Fiesta chairman and Dave Portillo as co-chairman. Hispanic performers for entertainment of all sorts, music, shows, vendors, etc., were all invited. Something new was needed to attract people from out of the area. Some suggestions were horse races, motorcycle races, sporting events. These suggestions were inadequate due to the lack of an area large enough to accommodate them. Someone (who shall remain nameless) suggested something Hispanic in origin, small, different and would require less space. Jose said, "ORGANIZE IT"! Thus was born the well-known Chihuahua Races. The races have now become the featured event of the day with entries from though out the city, county, state, nation and in 2001, an entry from another country. For more information, please call Miami Town Hall, 928-473-4403

Ron Ruble Copyright (c) 2003, 2006