Moms Treated to Mariachi Fest

Seventy-five-year-old Hortense Flores thought her family was taking her out Saturday for the traditional Mother’s Day dinner at her favorite Santa Ana restaurant. That would have been nice enough, she said.

Instead, they drove her to a big mariachi-fest, which was strange to her because her Americanized children usually turned the radio off or changed the station when she played traditional Mexican music.

“I was shocked. They’re taking me to the mariachis?” said Flores from her bleacher seat at Santa Ana Stadium. “It seems to me they’re going to be bored to death!”

“I’m sure we’re all going to enjoy it,” said son Robert, 43, as the first music played.

Las mananitas--that traditional Mexican morning serenade to mothers--became las nochesitas, as thousands of people treated their moms Saturday night to a festival of mariachi music in Santa Ana.

About 2,000 people, most accompanied by mothers, jammed Santa Ana Stadium for the Festival de Mariachis, which began with a blessing from Catholic Auxiliary Bishop Jaime Soto. There was singing, horseback-riding, roping and dancing.

The goal, as simple as they come: Make mom happy.

“I would cry if she didn’t show up,” said Belem Solis, a Santa Ana parks and recreation volunteer coordinator, and the person charged with spearheading the effort.

Her motivation was pleasing her 79-year-old mother, Maria Consuelo.

Fittingly for Santa Ana, a city with a large Latino immigrant population, the festival fell between Mother’s Day in Mexico and Mother’s Day in the U.S., celebrated today.

That’s Santa Ana in a nutshell--equal parts America and Mexico, with all the good and not-so-good that come from such a dichotomy.

For some children, it meant minor sacrifices as they listened to music they’re not attuned to.

“I don’t really like this kind of music,” said 12-year-old Jessica Lopez as she listened to the group Perla Tapatia with her sister Nancy, 16, and little brother Lalo, 7.

But her mother, Maria Inez Lopez, 44, deserved being honored, she said. “I like her because she makes us laugh. She’s nice and joyful.”

Even though Inez Lopez was busily working, donating roses and greeting people--when she wasn’t bringing plates of hot dogs or tacos to her seated children--she clearly had a blast.

From one of the tunnels, the mother and several other volunteers could be heard screaming “ajuaa!” and assorted other mariachi yelps. They grabbed male volunteers, and arms interlocked, danced with abandon.

“I’m really having a good time,” said Stephanie Ramirez, 13, who volunteered alongside her mother, Mariela.

Never had the city embarked on such a Mother’s Day celebration, city officials and residents said. The event was about eight months in the making and consumed many city officials, staff, business people, students and other volunteers.

High school students, senior citizens and numerous other residents scoured the city, leaving fliers and posters for the event at churches, businesses, tienditas--small stores--beauty salons, banks, restaurants and in front of the zoo. Volunteers sold scads of tickets.

“This is something a city decided to do for our mothers,” said Otto Bade, 56, owner of La Perla Restaurant on Main Street. “This is a way to teach our children to love and respect their mothers.”