El Teatro Campesino holds Family Day fundraiser

Food, music and games took center stage during El Teatro Campesino’s Family Day fundraising event on April 28.

The four-hour fundraiser featured performances by two folklorico groups, a Little Louie film screening and live music.

Carnival-themed games were also available for attendees to play with a donation.

Melisa Aguilar, 11, said her favorite part of the event was the balloon darts. Her brother Jacob Vasquez, 9, preferred the bag toss because it was easier than popping balloons.

Those with a sweet tooth satisfied their cravings with churros, and could also purchase tacos, quesadillas and agua frescas like horchata and jamaica while watching performances by Grupo Folklorico San Martin and Estrellas de Esperanza. Attendees also danced to performances by Grupo Macabra and Qiensabe.

“It’s really bringing and connecting all the entities that we work with and sharing it with our community,” said Cristal Gonzalez, writer and producer with El Teatro Campesino.

Gonzalez said the goal of the event was to raise money through games and a raffle for El Teatro’s Artists in Schools program. The 12-week program works to help educate seventh-grade students at four school sites in San Juan Bautista and Hollister about la conquista de Mexico (Mexico’s conquest) using three components: a visual arts project, music and a puppet show.

Program instructors teach students how music connects people to their roots, Gonzalez said, and the puppet show allows students to tell history from their perspective.

“It’s really beautiful,” Gonzalez said. “The kids have a significant impact with our presence there.”

Christy Sandoval, general manager of El Teatro Campesino, said it raised about $2,800 from food sales, raffle ticket sales, merchandise sales and game donations. El Teatro also received a separate donation of $1,000 from UA Local Union 393, which represents plumbers, steamfitters and HVAC/R technicians of San Benito and Santa Clara counties.

El Teatro also receives funding from the Artists in Schools program from the California Arts Council. Sandoval said the council awarded $7,795 this year, with the stipulation that it is matched by El Teatro.

To this end, El Teatro combines all proceeds from the Family Day, sponsors, foundations and school districts.

“I strongly believe that theater opens up the spirit, the heart and creates change,” Gonzalez said. “And I think that’s what the Teatro’s purpose has continued to be.”