Baja Rosario Festival Once Again a Success!
text by connie ellig; photos by david hopps & connie ellig

To the delight of the crowd, the international panel of judges chose well-spoken Zahyra Judith Arce Montes, a 17-year-old high school student, as “Señorita Rosario 2006.” (Coincidentally, Zahyra’s sister, Mara, was the first runner up at the 2005 pageant.) The title of first runner up was awarded to Socorro Fuerte Alvarado; second runner up was Evelyn Bustillos Peralta, who also won “Miss Elegance.” Maryly Cajeme Aguilar was selected as “Miss Congeniality” and Yeraldi Duarte Acevedo was declared “Miss Photogenic.” After the pageant, the celebration continued into the wee hours of the morning. On the following afternoon, Queen Zahyra and the other candidates participated in the antique car parade and other festivities.
 
 

(center photo) Srita. Rosario Zahyra Judith Arce Montes poses with Municipal Delegate Jesús Viera Espinoza (left) and event organizer Antonio Muñoz Murillo (right).

Artfest 2006, curated by Kim Williams, was especially outstanding this year. The exposition featured her paintings as well as those of other local artists like Hugo López, Grasaciego and Sue Goertzen, and photography by Tomás Campbell.

In addition to attending the inaugural ceremonies plus fiestas, rodeos and horse races, many festival goers took the opportunity to visit local points of interest like the Petrified Forest, the picturesque old cemetery, the two Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Viñadaco mission sites, the CONACULTA-INAH community museum near the riverbed and the newly re-opened Museo de Doña Anita located on the highway around the corner from Mama Espinoza’s Restaurant.
 
 

Organized by the Club de Vaqueros del Rosario, the afternoon rodeos (jaripeos) provided plenty of thrills as courageous cowboys rode lively bulls and broncos.

Congratulations are extended to the festival organizing committee – Antonio Muñoz, Gloria Arce, Guilibaldo Espinoza, Carolina Espinoza, and pageant coordinator Gabriela Gaxiola Gámez – as well as the townspeople of El Rosario who once again joined forces to extend their hospitality, share their traditions and make the Baja Rosario Festival 2006 a magical and memorable event.

Note: A limited number of Baja Rosario Festival 2006 commemorative color t-shirts are still available in adult and children’s sizes at Baja Cactus Motel, located next to El Rosario’s Pemex station.

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