Mexican Heritage Month fiesta
57 saturday, September 13, 2025
robert A. “bob” bowers
Civic Center
Miss Preciosa
Mr. Jovencito
Adalina Gonzalez Chayce Chiasson
Ellie Herrera Valentino Emiliano Correa
Mexican Heritage Society keeps the culture alive in Port Arthur
By Cesar Cardenas cesar.cardenas@panews.com
For more than half a century, the Mexican Heritage Society of Port Arthur has preserved and celebrated Mexican culture, turning an idea born in the late 1960s into one of the city’s longest-running traditions.
The organization’s roots trace back to 1967, when a group of Mexican American families, working through the Port Arthur Chamber of Commerce, launched a Mexican Independence Day Fiesta in the Jefferson City Shopping Center parking lot. The
See ‘Mexican Heritage,’ page 5
Mexican Heritage
shopping center spanned Twin City Highway from 32nd to 39th streets and housed numerous stores.
The event, once called the Mexican Independence Day Committee Fiesta, featured live music, folklórico dancing, and food that brought together both Hispanic and non-Hispanic residents.
As the years passed, the Fiesta became a staple in Port Arthur. Performers traveled from Houston, San Antonio, and beyond to take the stage, and families made volunteering a tradition passed down from parents to children.
“Somebody’s got to keep it going to let the new generation know about our heritage,” said longtime member and past president David Ramirez, whose family has been deeply involved for decades.
The celebration eventually moved indoors to the Port Arthur Civic Center in the 1980s to escape the region’s September heat. The venue has remained home to the event, which today includes folklórico dancers, live bands, authentic cuisine, and the crowning of the Fiesta's many Queens. Winners of the pageant, along with runners-up, receive scholarships that support local Hispanic students.
Current president Zulema Escobedo, who first became involved when her daughter competed for Junior Miss, said her experience revealed how meaningful the society could be.
“I thought I knew so much about Mexico because my grandparents are from there, but when my daughter ran for Queen, I realized I really didn’t know as much as I thought. That’s when I fell in love with what they did,” she said.
Under her leadership, the society has emphasized youth involvement and recognition. Young dancers are now trained as instructors, and former Fiesta queens and participants have stepped into director roles. Ramirez also expanded programming to highlight local Hispanic students and artists, giving them opportunities to perform and be recognized alongside major bands.
Her vision is clear: ensuring the Fiesta doesn’t just honor the past but also engages the future.
“If we don’t bring young people in, the leadership starts to fade,” Escobedo said. “That’s why I wanted to make sure youth had a place in the society.”
The work has paid off. Membership and sponsorships have grown, and attendance at the Civic Center has nearly pushed the venue to its limits. Escobedo said the Civic Center staff even cautioned her to start thinking about future growth. “They told me, ‘You don’t have any more seats for anybody. All the tables, all the chairs are full.’ That’s a good problem to have,” she said with a laugh.
Still, the society faces familiar challenges, hurricanes, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the constant need for volunteers. At its core, however, the mission has remained unchanged: preserving Mexican culture in Port Arthur and sharing it with the community. Members volunteer throughout the year at schools, nursing homes, Mardi Gras parades, and other events, keeping their presence visible beyond the Fiesta itself.
“We’re all volunteers, doing this out of our hearts,” Ramirez said. “We just want to keep our heritage alive for the next generation.”
Jr. Miss
Jazmyn Sanchez
Ava Pena
Aubry Garcia
America Ochoa
Sophia Simon
Maricela Ontiveros
Layla Hernandez
Laila Castro Izabella Alvarado
Little Miss
Young Miss
Krystal Cardenas Kayley Varela
Isabel Gatica
Giuliana Magana
Idalie Grace Elena Torres
Balbina Estrada
Aylin Barragan
Annabelle Mayo
Petite Miss
Tiny Miss
Savannah Magana
Mia Escobedo Bautista
Kaelyn Briones
Grace Garza
Adilynn Garcia
Giselle Torres
Gabriella Duarte
Ximena Hernandez
Noeli Bermudez
Emma Cruz
Emi Duarte
Board Members
Víctor Olguín
Martha Lara Cruz
Edith Valencia
Rachael Ruiz Broussard
Tony Ramirez
Graciela Sanchez
Chris Gonzales
Zulema Escobedo
Mindy Escobedo
Elaina Escobedo Gonzales
Star Peña
Esteban Peña
Blanca Torres
Costume Contest
Ian Azahel Olguín
Alaia Delacruz
Jazlyn Anahi Lopez
Myya Jo Hernandez
Malachi Milan
Costume Contest
Vanavi Renee Joubert
Luna Alvarez
Milahni Cardenas
Elena Gonzalez
Sarah Michelle Boyd
Honoring the Past, Embracing the Future
Mexican Heritage Festival Pageant Welcomes New Directors
The 57th Annual Mexican Heritage Pageant is entering a new chapter as fresh leadership steps in to guide the beloved community tradition. This year, new directors, Rachael Ruiz Broussard and Elaina Escobedo Gonzales, will take the reins, bringing their vision to an event that has long celebrated culture, family and heritage, while honoring the generations who built it.
The newly appointed directors will debut their vision with changes to the annual celebration on Sept .13, at the Bob Bower Civic Center in Port Arthur. Zita Downs, the chairman of the Mexican Heritage Society said her experience gained her a comprehensive understanding of the operational requirements for the pageant.
“I assumed the role of director in 2004 and subsequently directed my first pageant in the following year,” Downs said. “As director, one assumes A multifaceted role that includes teaching and inspiring contestants to deepen their knowledge of their Mexican heritage.”
A distinctive feature of this pageant is that each contestant represents a state in Mexico, selecting a costume that originates from that state, she said.
“The contestants engage in thorough research on their chosen costumes, author an essay about the costume significance and select music that represents the state,” Downs said. “Throughout the month of August, these young participants dedicate considerable effort to
See ‘Directors,’ page 13
Sierra Kondos Special to the News
Sierra Kondos/Special to The News
Rachael Ruiz Broussard, left, and Elaina Escobedo Gonzales.
Directors
Continued from 12
perfecting a traditional opening number, conducting and in-depth research to ensure the authenticity of their costumes, and honing their presentation skills for the stage.”
Upon being crowned queen, the tile title holder undertakes a yearlong commitment that includes fundraising, participating in parades, and serving as an ambassador for the Mexican Heritage Society in the community.
“This involves activities such as reading to children at schools, visiting nursing homes, and attending various events across the golden triangle,” she said. “Serving as queen of the Mexican Heritage Pageant is a unique honor, distinguished from other pageants in the area. The Queens in each age category consider it a privilege to dedicate a year to representing and celebrating their Mexican heritage.”
Downs says she is working alongside new directors Ruiz-Broussard and Escobedo-Gonzales, to preserve the long-standing traditions of the 57-year-old pageant while “introducing a fresh ambience.”
“I grew up in the Mexican Heritage Society and was crowned in 2001,” Rachael Ruiz Broussard, director of the for the Teen, Junior Miss and Miss Mexican Heritage categories. “However, I kind of just separated myself for a while but decided to become a member again. The concept and the basic rules and regulations will stay the same, but we want to add our ideas to the event. This year, we will be taking inspiration from the movie, “Coco,” and the contestants will be walking out to the song, “Remember Me,” the new queens are saying goodbye. So, it's like, “Remember me, although I won't be too far gone.” Sugar skulls and bright colors will also be incorporated into the event.”
With 29 contestants preparing to take the stage, the pageants new directors are eager to showcase both the talent of this year's participants and the fresh ideas they are bringing to the program. Escobedo-Gonzales is putting a personal touch on the pageant by incorporating La Vaquera style dancing, a performance rooted in Mexican ranching traditions that blends grace, rhythm and storytelling.
“I was nicknamed ‘The Covid-Queen, since I won my crown as Junior Miss Mexican Heritage for the years 2019- 2021,” Elaina Escobedo-Gonzales, director for the Tiny Miss, Petite Miss, Young Miss and Little Miss categories, said. “Being apart of the Mexican Heritage Society has been something I’ve loved since I was a little girl- from dancing and performing to attending community events to educate everyone about our society and why our culture is so important to us.”
With fresh leadership and new choreography, the Mexican Heritage Pageant is ready to delight audiences once again.
For more information, visit www.mexicanheritagefiesta.com.
Sierra Kondos/Special to The News
Elaina Escobedo Gonzales and Rachael Ruiz Broussard are new directors joining the Mexican Heritage Pageant.
Honoring Heritage Through Generations: Emily’s Journey with the Mexican Heritage Fiesta
For Emily Arroyo, participating in the Mexican Heritage Fiesta has been a cherished tradition since childhood—a passion deeply rooted in family history. Her mother, Edith, attended her first Fiesta in 1986. Though she always dreamed of taking part in the celebrations, financial limitations made it difficult for her growing up in a large family.
Determined to instill a strong sense of cultural pride and identi-
ty in her own children, Edith made it a priority to involve them in the community’s annual celebration.
Emily first took the stage in the Fiesta pageant as a young girl, later returning as a teenager and earning the title of Junior Miss Mexican Heritage Society.
During one Fiesta event, a military recruiter spoke about serving the country—a moment that left a lasting impression on Emily. Inspired by the opportunity to serve and lead, she chose to pursue a career in the military. Today, she proudly serves as a Staff Sergeant,
currently stationed in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Despite the distance, Emily remains closely connected to her roots. When visiting family in Texas, she makes it a point to attend the Fiesta and now brings her own children to participate in the tradition. Her story is a testament to the enduring values of family, culture, and service.
“Our family loves this country and continues to proudly represent our roots and traditions,” Emily says. “It’s a legacy we’re proud to pass on.”
Past queen Mindy Escobedo credits pageant with growth
Growing up, I was always known as the shy and quiet girl. I was great at making friends, but I never went up to people or started a conversation first. That wasn’t until, my mom begged me to run for Jr. Miss Mexican Heritage Queen. Doing this opened so many doors for me, it gave me courage to walk and talk on a stage in front of strangers, it improved my interviewing skills, and broadened my network. Because of my time as Jr. Miss, I was able to grow more with my Mexican
culture and learn to love and embrace it more than I did before that. I quickly learned the importance of sharing my heritage with those around me and joined the Mexican Heritage Society as a volunteer outside of my reign as Jr. Miss. Today, all the way from the Texas Capitol, I still facilitate and intake all of the programming for vendors and food booths. It’s something I hope to continue as long as I am alive. I love being a Mexican-American and hope to have such a great crowd at this year’s 57th fiesta!
Long history with Mexican Heritage Fiesta fuels Navia Pompa to success
The Mexican Heritage Society has always been a part of my family. When I was little, I was a folkloric dancer alongside my sister and cousins. I remember looking at photos from years before and feeling awe as I saw my mom dressed in her costume when she competed in the Miss Mexican Heritage Pageant.
It became a tradition every year for my sister, my cousins, and me to either dance or enter the pageant. We would attend the weekend celebration filled with dances, food, pageantry, and arts and crafts. It was something we all looked forward to. I was passionate about competing and was honored to be awarded the title of Miss Mexican Heritage Queen in 2005. Holding that title and representing my culture in our community is a memory I will never forget.
Today, I am a wife and the mother of a beautiful and vibrant 5-year-old daughter. Much of my time is spent raising awareness and advocating for her, as she has
autism. We want her—and the world—to know there will always be room for her and for others like her.
I am also the owner of Makeup by Navia, a business I have operated for over 11 years, traveling for weddings, pageants, and events. In addition, I am the co-owner of Day 41 Photography and Fellowship, a Christian-based photography business we hope to grow into a larger ministry one day.
I serve as co-director of the Miss Southeast Texas Scholarship Pageant, the Miss Mardi Gras Scholarship Pageant, and the Miss Groves Texas Pageant. I am also a member of the worship team at my church, Pathway Mid County.
I am so thankful for the memories and confidence that pageantry instilled in me, which helped me build such a fulfilling life within our community. Even decades later, the Mexican Heritage Society continues to hold a special place in my household and traditions within my family.
Alumni Dancers
Mexican Heritage Society Scholarship recipients
The Mexican Heritage Society is pleased to announce the three, 2025 Academic Scholarship Recipients.
Jazmin Sanchez, grad-
uate of Monsignor Kelly Catholic High School, will be attending Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas.
Ethan Vargas, graduate of Orangefield High School, will be attend-
ing Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas.
Graciela Sanchez graduate of West Orange Stark High School will also be attending Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas
Each recipient was awarded a $1,000 academic scholarship.
The Academic Scholarship Committee includes Jessica Barragan, Antonio “Tony” Ramirez, Jr., and Andrea Velazco.
Jazmin Sanchez
Graciela Sanchez
Ethan Vargas
Ballet Folclórico Herencia Mexicana de Port Arthur, TX
Ballet Folklorico Herencia Mexicana is a group of dancers dedicated to learning and performing traditional Folkloric dances representing States and Regions of Mexico, according to information
from the Mexican Heritage Society.
By pairing beautiful costumes with dance steps, the team of dancers give an incredible show. This is one of the many ways the society preserves and shares Mexican culture.
Courtesy Mexican Heritage Society
Several members of Ballet Folclórico Herencia Mexicana de Port Arthur, TX pose for a photo. They include Victor Olguin, left, and Genesis Escobedo, and back row, Joana Zapot and Kimberly Olguin.
Celebrates
