A Successful Mother’s Day Event

Our 5th Annual Mother’s Day Event and Cultural Celebration was a huge success this year! Nearly 200 community members attended our gathering at the Milbridge Town Hall and took part in our cultural event. We were so pleased to host the evening for family and friends from near and far. Several community volunteers were a huge help in the morning, preparing the Town Hall for the evening’s festivities and putting plenty of effort and care into decorating and setting up.

The bounce house for the kids was a big hit, as always, allowing them to expend some energy outdoors before coming inside for the potluck dinner and evening program. The variety of food was delicious, ranging from potato salad and deviled eggs to tamales and Mexican rice. A big thanks to our guests for providing such good eats! Not even a piece of frosting remained of the massive Mother’s Day cake at the end of the evening.

Our program this year, largely coordinated by our Outreach Worker Edith Flores, contained nine acts with a variety of poems, plays, and dances that commemorated mothers, or which were typical sketches from Mother’s Day celebrations in Mexico. Crowd favorites included the children’s dance “Chu Chu Wa” and the play “Los Papeles Importantes del Rey” (The King’s Important Papers). Edith’s tireless work in organizing children, youth, and adults alike was evident in the successful turnout and presentation of the program acts, and in the enjoyment of both participants and audience members throughout the evening. Two student MC’s that announced the program in English and Spanish rounded out the group.

Finally, like last year, the final number of the evening, “El Moreliano,” closed out the show. A traditional, festive dance from Mexico (with a bull called The Morelian) is a return act from last year with a few additions to the “dancing bull.” Big thanks go to the family that spent so much time decorating and building the props that go with the music and dance. Lively music got (nearly) everyone off their seats to enjoy dancing on into the evening.

We extend many thanks and appreciation to community volunteers, College of the Atlantic students, Mano en Mano Board members, and staff for working hard to pull off a successful and fun evening. Special thanks goes to the Maine Humanities Council for their continued support.