Annual San Juan Fiesta Turtle Fest returns to Tortugas in June
Leah Romero
TORTUGAS –The Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Tortugas is bringing back its annual San Juan Fiesta Turtle Fest this month, celebrating the theme “Tortugas Family Reunion” after three difficult years for the village due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The San Juan Fiesta is Tortugas’ annual celebration of one of its patron saints, St. John the Baptist. It is also the largest fundraiser hosted for the parish, located in the village south of Mesilla Park. Funds raised over the weekend will support parish programs and projects.
16th annual Tortugas Open Golf Tournament
Festivities kick off Friday, June 23 with the 16th annual Tortugas Open Golf Tournament held at the New Mexico State University Golf Course, located at 3000 Herb Wimberly Dr. A shotgun start is scheduled for 8 a.m.
According to organizers, the tournament is a four-person scramble. The entry fee is $125 per player of $500 per team. Entry fees cover the green fee, golf cart, goodie bag and “Tortugas Style” meal following the tournament. The tournament is limited to the first 36 teams.
To sign up, call David Fierro at 575-496-1693 or Frank Torres at 575-640-4354.
Tardeada, ‘Tortugas Family Reunion’
Activities will continue Saturday, beginning with Traditional Indian Dancing at 8 a.m. in honor of St. John the Baptist in front of the parish, located at 3600 Paroquia St. A Vigil Mass in English will be held at 5:30 p.m.
The tardeada, or dance, will round out the day in the village’s covered pavilion, featuring music by local band UnLyshed. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the dance starts at 8 p.m. Entrée is $8 per person at the door. Food and a cash bar will be available for attendees.
Sunday fiesta for the whole family
Sunday events begin with mass, held at 7:30 a.m. (English), 9 a.m. (Spanish) and 10:30 a.m. (English). Food vendors and games will be on site from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday as the festivities continue.
The Sweet Booth will open at 8 a.m. while the rest of the food vendors will start serving customers at 10 a.m.
The main event, according to organizers, will be the 32nd Annual San Juan Turtle Derby Races. Turtle registration opens at 11 a.m. and races begin at 2 p.m. Local celebrities will commence the derby in the Celebrity Turtle Race.
Big E’s DJ Service and Animmo will provide musical entertainment throughout the day and dancing will continue from 3 to 7 p.m. under the pavilion. A cash bar will be open from noon to 6 p.m.
Games for the kids will be set up in the Turtle Fest Kiddie Land inside the parish hall.
The festival will end with the fiesta raffle drawing at 7 p.m. Cash prizes total $1,750.
Weekend festivities are open to the public and all are welcome to attend. For more information, call the parish office at 575-526-8171 or email the festival committee at olgsanjuanfiesta@gmail.com.
Leah Romero is the trending reporter at the Las Cruces Sun-News and can be reached at 575-418-3442, LRomero@lcsun-news.com or @rromero_leah on Twitter.
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