The 58th annual Fiesta Day Parade filled the streets of Historic Bessemer with bright colors, mariachi music, and joyful members of the Pueblo community supporting one another and celebrating the Hispanic heritage and history of Pueblo.
On the morning of Sunday Aug. 31, 2025 CSU Pueblo Ballet Folklorico was named “Judges Choice” by the Colorado State Fair (CSF) Fiesta Day Committee. Additionally, the Fiesta Day Court included two CSU Pueblo students, also dancers of Ballet Folklorico.
Stephanie Beltran, a freshman at CSU Pueblo, experienced her first time not dancing in the parade after 10 years of participation, as she was awarded Secondary Attendant in the pageant, assuming a different role in the 2025 parade. She rode with the Fiesta Day Court performing her responsibilities as Secondary Attendant. Miss Congeniality was awarded to another CSU Pueblo student, Stephanie Calzaillas Rojo. The pageant is held earl in June and selects a number of contestants to be placed and awarded scholarships, with a strong emphasis on uplifting women of Hispanic heritage.
“I mean, they crossed the border for these sacrifices for me to be here, and so I want to represent them in the best way I can. It’s my roots, it’s my identity, and I’m proud to represent it and be a woman of color,” said Beltran.
The dance group is led by Iska Merino Martinez, and includes CSU Pueblo students, alumni, and other members from the community, it also includes Roberto Chacon Chacon. Chacon is CSU Pueblo alumni, after moving from Mexico at a young age, he reports finding a sense of community within Pueblo and Ballet Folklorico.
“I don’t know, it just kind of felt right, and I made this my home,” said Chacon as he explained the strong presence of culture and the pride for Hispanic heritage that the community emits encouraged his choice to stay in Pueblo after finishing his nursing degree.
Ballet Folklorico is a traditional dance deeply rooted in Hispanic cultures, passing down ballets of folklore from generation to generation, and culture to culture. Chacon and other dancers report that they have been dancing since the age of 5. The Fiesta Day Parade is a time where dancers come together with the community, representing their families and heritage in a bold way, something that they look forward to.
Following Northern Ave., the parade stretches from Evans Ave. to Beulah Ave. and comes with increased expectations for dancers. They walk the entire distance in step with one another performing for the community after what they describe as weeks of preparation. From the choreography to the decorations and makeup, each component of the performance is crafted with intention to perform for the people.
“The best part is seeing everyone’s faces,” said Emilio Ortega, another dancer from Ballet Folklorico.
Dancers gathered around their trophy for “Judges Choice” with prideful smiles to have celebratory photos taken just before the parade began at 10 a.m. Other students, leaders and dancers from the Cheer, and Dance teams showed up, as well as Tundra (CSU Pueblo mascot) to support the parade float.
Pueblo officially commenced Fiesta Day in 1966, every year since residents celebrate with traditional music, dancing, food and anything else recognizing the Hispanic heritage and history of Pueblo. This year’s celebration was named “El Corazón de Nuestra Comunidad” or “The Heart of Our City”.
Fiesta Day activities continued Sunday at the Colorado State Fair, where various acts and dancers performed through the afternoon and evening. The community is gearing up for the upcoming Hispanic Heritage Month to continue the celebration of culture and community.
