[StBernard] St. Bernard's Islenos Fiesta full of history, music and food

[Westley Annis]

St. Bernard's Islenos Fiesta full of history, music and food
Posted by Kim Gritter, Editor of St. Bernard Picayune, The Times-Picayune
March 19, 2009 5:00AM
Categories: Festivals, Top News

Steven Forster / The Times-Picayune

Lorraine McDaniel at the 2008 Los Islenos Fiesta at the Islenos Museum
Complex. 

If you want to tantalize your taste buds and brush up on your history, head
over to the 33rd annual Islenos Fiesta this weekend on the grounds of where
the Islenos Museum once stood, 1357 Bayou Road in St. Bernard community.
Festival hours are Saturday from noon to 9 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 8
p.m. 

St. Bernard Parish historian Bill Hyland said the fiesta showcases the rich
heritage of the Islenos, ancestors of the Canary Islanders who settled in
St. Bernard Parish in the late 1770s.

"People should come out to not only witness the wonderful folkloric music
and dancing that became a tradition hundreds of years ago in the Canary
Islands, but also to celebrate our heritage and to help us support our
rebuilding efforts," said Hyland, who is an Islenos descendant of the Nunez,
deArmas, Serpas, Estopinal and Perez families.

The Islenos Museum was crushed by a toppled water oak during Hurricane
Katrina. The 80-foot tree caused irreparable damage to the 19th-century
cottage and also exposed significant termite damage dating back 60 to 70
years, according to Hyland.

With help from FEMA, Hyland said the society plans to build a replica of the
cottage, which was demolished March 14, 2008. Proceeds from this year's
festival will help with necessary improvements to the complex grounds, a
30-acre tract that includes historic buildings such as the Esteves house and
the Cresap-Caserta house.

Hyland said volunteers have been using the Chalmette High School cafeteria
to prepare some of the Spanish cuisine that will be served at the fiesta,
including traditional dishes, such as caldo and empanadas, and sweets, such
as flan, paella, empanadillas and croquetas. Seafood platters, po-boys,
gumbo, and grilled and raw oysters also will be available at the fiesta.

Other highlights will include crafts and a children's area. Visitors also
will be able to walk the rehabilitated half-mile nature trail that boasts
abundant local wildflowers, blackberries, palmetto plants and cypress trees.

Canary Islands government officials and about 29 folkloric singers and
dancers will participate in the celebration.

Antiguos Coros y Danzas de Ingenio, a folkloric group from Ingenio in Gran
Canaria, will perform traditional folk music of the Canary Islands, as well
as jazz and modern music. Other musical entertainment will include
performances by August Rush, Fredy Omar con su Banda, Julio y Cesar and The
Topcats.

A shuttle bus will be available during the fiesta to provide visitors a tour
of the museum complex grounds and St. Bernard Catholic Cemetery.

Three heritage programs will be held in conjunction with this year's fiesta.

On Saturday at noon, there will be an Islenitos program for children ages
3-8, a junior program for Isleno descendants ages 9-19, and a senior program
for descendants ages 55 and older.

Entrants will have to provide the proper Islenos attire for the event and
show how they are of Islenos descent.

Hyland will emcee the event.

Winners will be chosen by drawing. Each group will have a king and queen,
who will reign and represent the Los Islenos Heritage and Cultural Society
at various functions throughout the coming year until Fiesta 2010.

For more information, call Joan Nunez Phillips at 504.279.3831; Catherine
Serpas at 504.494.1363; Judy Rodriguez Borne at 504.473.0711; or Angel
Johnson at 504.277.8511.

Kim Gritter is editor of the St. Bernard Picayune. She can be reached at
kgritter at timespicayune.com or 504.826.3792.