| The Fort Bend Museum is hosting its 11th annual Fiestas Patrias Festival at the Fort Bend Museum in Richmond from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17. This free family event commemorates the day when Father Hidalgo y Costillo's cry for liberty - el Grito de Dolores - called for an end to Spanish tyranny in Mexico and started the movement for Mexican independence.
In 1825 the 16th of September - Diez y Seis de Septiembre - was declared the national Independence Day, and is still celebrated all over Mexico and in Hispanic communities in the U.S.
The Fiestas Patrias Festival takes place on the grounds of the historic Moore Home at 500 Houston St. in Richmond. This free community event features Mexican music sponsored by Las Noticias, traditional folkloric dancing, a car show, a crafts sale and childrens' activities. Door prizes will also be offered throughout the day.
A traditional high point of the celebration will be the crowning of the Fiestas Patrias Queen, chosen from five contestants competing for the title and a share of $2,250 in scholarship money.
This year's contestants are Bianca Billasano, 16, Needville High School; Crystal Jimenez, 16, Lamar Consolidated High School; Valerie Morales, 18, Foster High School; Victoria Segura, 17, B.F. Terry High School; and Samantha Solis, 17, B.F. Terry High School.
Each contestant will be raising funds in the community and will also be selling tickets for a raffle featuring prizes such as a $750 shopping spree at First Colony Mall, a high performance G.E. washing machine, a char-broil gas grill and a children's party pack for 25 guests at the Fort Bend Museum.
Raffle tickets may be purchased from queen contestants, or at the Fort Bend Museum, 500 Houston St. in Richmond. Raffle prizes are offered this year through the support of Toyota Motor Company, NewFirst National Bank, Fiesta Mart, Hibernia Bank and the Fort Bend Museum.
For more information, call Donna Hoover at the Fort Bend Museum at 281-342-6478 or visit www.fortbendmuseum.org .
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