Taos’ Multicultural Festival – 4th of July in Arroyo Seco

Well this post turned out to be WAY overdue….it is not quite July 5th anymore….but I hope you’re still able to enjoy these images from the best and more spontaneous multicultural festival I know of.

The village of Arroyo Seco is located about 10 miles northeast of Taos, New Mexico tucked right up against the base of the mountains near the Columbine-Hondo Wilderness area and on the way to Taos Ski Valley.

While many of our northern New Mexico communities host fun July 4^th parades, this one is by far the most entertaining.  Parade participants go all out.  If you want unusual floats…hot dogs sailing through the air…wild costumes…squirt guns…horses…a belly dancer on a horse….full-throated theatrical political commentary…and a freewheeling outpour of personal religious/philosophical stances then this is the place.

This is one of the best places I know of to people watch.  This is also one of the best places for me to feel pride in being American.

For me, the very best part of being American IS our multiculturalism. Our diversity – the idea that many religions, cultures, languages and skin colors can all exist peaceably in the same nation – that we can all come together and support each other no matter our differences. No, the USA is far from perfect and we struggle daily for equality, diversity and freedom but overall we are moving ahead and celebrations like this one encourage our improvement and tolerance. The Arroyo Seco parade is a multicultural festival where we take pride in all parts of America. Freedom IS diversity and freedom reigns in this parade no matter your skin color, your history, or your sexual preference.  If you’re down on America, come to Arroyo Seco next summer and get inspired.

I’m proud to be part of a community like this.

The parade itself kicks off at 12pm on the dot but the festivities begin an hour before that has hundreds of area residents line the narrow road through the village and hangs on for an hour or so after the parade with live traditional Norteño music, frito pie, ice cream and green chile stew.

I went black and white for photos this year.  Just for fun.  The one capture just about didn’t quite fit black and white but I loved it and stuck it in this collection anyway.

Check out last year’s images here.

~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~

##