Topeka's 2022 Fiesta Mexicana begins with family members coming home to celebrate

Catheryn Hrenchir, Topeka Capital-Journal
·2 min read
The Vargas home has a prime spot for Fiesta Mexicana.
The Vargas home has a prime spot for Fiesta Mexicana.

Families near the Fiesta Mexicana are opening their doors to family and friends after a two-year hiatus.

Decorated homes, displaying pride and heritage, say, "Welcome back."

The fiesta, which runs through Saturday, is being held by Our Lady of Guadalupe church, 201 N.E. Chandler St.

More: Fiesta Mexicana is back. Here are the changes for this year's July 14-16 celebration in Topeka.

Robbie Ramos, who is a member of the Vargas family, said his family will be coming in from Kansas City, Chicago and possibly St. Louis.

"It's a very large family," he said. "My grandparents alone had seven children. I'm second generation born here in Kansas, in Topeka. My great-grandfather owned this home."

It's all about celebrating heritage

Part of the Vargas family, Olivia and Robbie Ramos, stand outside the home.
Part of the Vargas family, Olivia and Robbie Ramos, stand outside the home.

For Ramos, the significance of the event is based on roots.

"(The fiesta is) an annual tradition of bringing family together again and remembering our culture, remembering where we come from, and to remain proud of that, and to keep the legacy going," Ramos said, "just keeping our heritage and the culture of our people."

The COVID-19 pandemic, which shut down many events beginning in March 2020, canceled or dramatically altered the fiesta in 2020 and 2021.

"For last few years it has been kind of weird, very disappointing," Ramos said.

This year, things are coming back to life.

"It's only three days and normally it's a five-day event," he said. "So baby steps, I guess. It's getting back to normal."

More: Fiesta Mexicana won't have carnival this week after all; food, dance and fun will go on

Guests arrive to celebrate Fiesta Mexicana

Isabel Valdivia and Jose Calvillo stand beside the many family photos in her living room.
Isabel Valdivia and Jose Calvillo stand beside the many family photos in her living room.

Jose Calvillo, who came from Colorado, is the first to visit Isabel Valdivia. Her home has been a gathering place for many over the years.

"The out-of-towners will come on in for this week because we know that's just when we can have the chance of seeing the most amount of people from the family or friends," Calvillo said. "That's why this is kind of the reunion week for all the families."

"If you come here at night, you will see the house flooded with people," said Valdivia.

"Most of my family's here, have been here forever, in this block," she said. "We have a lot of new people coming in. A lot of the younger generation is coming back and building new homes."

Catheryn Hrenchir is a feature writer for The Topeka-Capital Journal. She can be reached at chrenchir@gannett.com or (785) 817-6383.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Topeka's Fiesta Mexicana 2022 has begun