Last year, Glendale Community Center had food, a salsa-making competition and dancing during Hispanic Heritage Month. This year, they are expanding on that by holding a week-long celebration.<\/p>\n
They will hold Viva La Fiesta, a celebration of Hispanic and Latino culture, from Monday, Sept. 15, to Friday, Sept. 19.<\/p>\n
The festivities will include a dance performance and lesson, Loteria games, food, a talk on Hispanic and Latino history and culture and arts and crafts activities.<\/p>\n
Brittany Espinoza, recreation coordinator for the Glendale Community Center, said the seniors who regularly come to the center wanted them to have the celebration.<\/p>\n
\u201cA majority of our seniors are Hispanic\u2026. They\u2019re very proud of their culture and their history\u2026 Because it\u2019s so important to them, we decided to do a little bit more\u2026This year, we decided just to make it a little extra special, invite more of the community to it rather just keeping it in-house,\u201d Espinoza said.<\/p>\n
A few of their regulars have been helping to organize dance and history talk activities.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey stepped in and got involved. One of our seniors who loves to sing and dance, she wants to sing and dance anytime she possibly can\u2026 Another senior, he does it with everything. Anytime something like Black History Month comes up, he likes to do some kind of history piece on things like that,\u201d Espinoza said.<\/p>\n
Espinoza said they have a core group of between 20 to 30 seniors who come to the center almost every day, and they have formed close bonds with each other.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a really tight-knit, family atmosphere here when they come together. They know each other\u2019s birthdays\u2026 They really like to make everything a big party and everything special for each and every one of them, including themselves\u2026 A lot of them have been coming here for quite some time. I started here in 2022. I\u2019ve encouraged them to get more involved. They love this community. A lot of them know each other, know each other\u2019s kids or grandkids,\u201d Espinoza said.<\/p>\n
Regularly, the center offers activities for seniors such as Loteria, cornhole and exercise classes. Many seniors like to socialize and participate in them together.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese six ladies love to exercise a couple days a week. They get together every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and they exercise together. It\u2019s not only just about keeping them active but having those connections,\u201d Espinoza said.<\/p>\n
The center serves lunch every day at noon. Espinoza said that many of their regulars look forward to eating together.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome of them don\u2019t have family here, or they\u2019re home alone. This is their social piece throughout the week and throughout the day,\u201d Espinoza said.<\/p>\n
The center also hosts an annual Senior Prom around Valentine\u2019s Day.<\/p>\n
Espinoza said although events such as Viva La Fiesta are designed for the seniors they serve, people of all ages can attend.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith a lot of our senior events, they do bring their families, and sometimes they do bring their grandkids\u2026 It\u2019s just a senior-based event. A lot of the activities are geared towards seniors, but we love it when they bring their families,\u201d Espinoza said.<\/p>\n
Each year, the center also hosts an all-ages Winter Wonderland in December.<\/p>\n
Espinoza said often, seniors will often take part in other programming at the center.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur seniors like to volunteer at our youth events. They like to come out to our Winter Wonderland event and pass out the cookies and treats or help out with some of the crafts with the younger ones. They\u2019re very involved in their community and the center,\u201d Espinoza said.<\/p>\n
The center offers regular programming for different age groups. Sometimes, seniors will participate in these activities as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe run after-school programs, and we have a summer program. Our summer program pretty much takes over our center during the summer, but we still have our seniors here. We had a glow party, and the seniors came to dance with them\u2026 With our summer program, they do talent shows. Our seniors will stay and be the judges for those talent shows,\u201d Espinoza said.<\/p>\n
Viva La Fiesta<\/p>\n
WHEN: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.<\/p>\n
Monday, Sept. 15-Friday, Sept. 19<\/p>\n
WHERE: Glendale Community Center, 5401 W. Ocotillo Drive, Glendale<\/p>\n
COST: Free<\/p>\n