The Fiesta de los Isleños Fiesta 2022 was a great success with a wonderful turnout thanks to tremendous support of our community, local businesses, and government. Los Isleños Fiesta is the oldest festival celebrating the Spanish and Canarian presence in Louisiana. The funds raised by the Fiesta will be used to maintain Los Isleños Museum Complex and develop programs which interpret the distinct cultural heritage of the Isleños.
The Canarian dishes like ropa vieja and caldo as well as wine from the Canaries paired with the Spanish cuisine such as empanadas, croquettas, arroz con pollo, flan, tres leches cake, Spanish wine, and tapas including manchego cheese, chorizo, and ripe grapes distinguish this festival as a cultural event different from any other event in St. Bernard Parish or the New Orleans metropolitan region. Offerings of shrimp and grits, fried Louisiana seafood and grilled St. Bernard Parish oysters bring familiar local flavor to the Fiesta. Hamburgers, hotdogs, and chili remain a great favorite with children and others as well.
The living history section of Los Isleños Fiesta was as always exemplary, though several of those who ordinarily participate were incapacitated by COVID-19. Duck decoys, model boats, hand carved paddles, Tenerife lace, quilting, spinning fabric, military history, Isleño genealogy, Native American culture represented by Houma descendants, pirogues, trapping, African American foodways and other displays representing the cultural identity of the Isleños as it evolved in Louisiana were displayed and presented by accomplished local culture bearers.
Perhaps the most notable presence in 2022 was that of Felip Martín who, at 20 years of age, is the youngest culture bearer of the Canary Islands. Young Felip builds timples and other musical instruments. Felip, a native of the island of Lanzarote, was accompanied by his talented, younger brother Joan and his parents. Still another impromptu demonstration was by Tenerife native Antonio Frias, a renowned luchador canario or Canarian wrestler. Canarian wrestling has been preserved from the indigenous people of the Canaries and is a legacy several thousand years old.
One festival component which could not happen in 2022 because of COVID-19 was performances by a folkloric group from the Canaries. The Spanish culinary element when coupled with the music, dance, and vocal renditions of traditional folk songs exposes the public in a most powerfully colorful way to the distinct language, cultural traditions, and history of the Canary Islands. Always included in the repertoire are indigenous dances and music, traditional Spanish folk music with Canarian influence and music which evolved in the Americas as Canary Islanders populated the Spanish Empire.
Los Isleños Fiesta 2022 was dedicated to the memory of Dorothy Louise “Dot” Benge (1933–2022), the longest-serving President as well as Chair of the Fiesta Committee. Her complete commitment to the preservation of Isleño cultural heritage was unsurpassed. Her children and family turned out en masse to support the festival. We know Dot would have been proud! Los Isleños Fiesta is the oldest festival celebrating the Spanish and Canarian presence in Louisiana
Los Isleños Heritage and Cultural Society recognizes the very generous support of Valero Oil, The Arlene and Joseph Meraux Charitable Foundation, and the family of Dot Benge as major sponsors of Los Isleños Fiesta 2022. Many businesses and individuals were very generous with donations of funds which helped the Society immeasurably. Still others made in-kind donations of prepared food which was greatly appreciated.
It is important to note is that none of our officers or board members receive a salary in fulfilling the mission of Los Isleños Heritage and Cultural Society. Kathy (Serpas) Ziegler and Jeanne Lagarde performed outstandingly as co-chairs of the Fiesta Committee. The volunteer support was exemplary, though it was no small task to awaken the mechanism that is the Committee. The COVID-19 pandemic made 2021 the first year that the festival could not be held since its inception in 1976. Even after Katrina in 2006, Los Isleños Fiesta was organized and celebrated in the trailer park surrounding the Fredrick J. Sigur Civic Center and St. Bernard Parish Government Complex. Kathy monitored every component of the festival gently nudging people into action when necessary. Jeanne was always accessible, and they both displayed great skill in their careful management of the budget.
Individual acknowledgements must go to: Lena (Torres) Núñez with her entrance gate and ticket counting volunteers; Carrie (Menesses) Bernal and her “money room” volunteers; Donna Mumfrey–Martín who masterfully organized the living history displays and all those who displayed; Dennis Delaney who displayed his collection of Isleño family group photographs from Isleño settlements throughout the state; Chad Leblanc and members of the Canary Islanders Heritage Society of Louisiana; Bob Freeland and the Granaderos de Gálvez who discussed Spanish Governor Bernardo de Gálvez; Glen Menesses as master of ceremonies and the Entertainment Committee; Ralph Ziegler, an unsung hero who assists his wife Kathy in laying out the craft booths and in every other element of the festival; Kathy Acosta, Sheila Evans, Wayne Burgess and other volunteers who worked tirelessly in the Spanish food booth; Mike Benge and the seafood booth volunteers; Melinda (Benge) Brown who generously volunteered; Tommy Benge and the hotdog/hamburger grillers; Roland “Jaydee” Bergeron, Assessor Jaylynn (Bergeron) Turner, and their family who manage the hotdog/hamburger booth; Don and Tammy Melerine and their son Dylan who prepare delicious caldo and perpetuate the commitment of Calvin and Cinda Melerine to our cultural heritage; Kenny Fernández and Billy Serigné and the beer booth volunteers; Lindsey (Serpas) Jones, Bryant Jones, and the beverage booth volunteers; Susie Estéves with her wonderful desserts and the dessert booth volunteers; Shane Lulei and the funnel cake booth volunteers; Lacye (Serpas) Lulei and the gift shop/silent auction volunteers; Andrés Rodríguez who prepares the delicious tortilla gallega for the Tapas Bar every year; the St. Bernard Parish Tourist Commission which has funded the Tapas Bar in large measure for more than a decade in addition to organizing volunteers to run the bar; Katie Tommaseo, director of the St. Bernard Parish Department of Tourism and Film who among other projects funded a very successful publicity campaign for the Fiesta and even brought her son Nico and his Holy Cross School friends to volunteer; Parish Government’s Chief Administrative Officer Ronnie Alonzo who placed all the resources of St. Bernard Parish he possibly could at the disposal of the Fiesta; Louis Pomes who since 1982 has supported every festival and does a wonderful job organizing and managing the Oyster Booth; Parish President Guy McInnis; Sheriff James Pohlmann and the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office; and the St. Bernard Parish School Board.
We are compelled to say muchísimas gracias por todo – thank you so very much for everything! Finally, the Society thanks everyone, everywhere who contributed to the outstanding success of Los Isleños Fiesta 2022!