“For some reason, she’s really jazzed up about this,” says son Tony Swanke about his mother, Sarita Urias, after hearing about Barrio Fest in Fort Stockton.

If her name sounds familiar, that’s because Doña Sarita Urias was born in Fort Stockton and is an important figure to Mexican Americans in the area.

In 1948 and 1949, Fort Stockton like the rest of the nation was deep in the unfortunate throes of segregation.

Educationally, students were separated by race and color and there was a lot of prejudice against the Mexican American community.

This dark past of Fort Stockton is not a secret, but it is a past that has gradually moved into the recesses of our history.

But, Sarita Urias, 91, remembers these events like they were yesterday.

Doña Urias, along with many notable names in the community including Manuel Nuñez, Juan Terrazas, Jose Gonzales, and many more organized a celebration in the late 1940s in honor of Mexican Independence Day and highlighted some of the most unique aspects of the culture such as mariachi performances, the dancing of Las Marchas and La Raspa, as well as the singing of songs like “la Paloma” and “Soy Puro Mexicano.”

The event was groundbreaking considering the regrettable times that the community was in the midst of.

Now, 74 years later, the Latino community in Fort Stockton is gathering once again to highlight its Mexican history and culture in a four-day event. Barrio Fest will pick up where Sarita Urias and those who have continued to pave the way left off. It will focus on the preservation of the Latino culture for future generations.

Barrio Fest will kick off Thursday, Sept. 15 with an opening event in front of the Fort Stockton Community Theater. For the first time, there will be a mapped tour highlighting one of the many barrios in Fort Stockton.

A film starring Cantinflas, the beloved Mexican comedian, as well as a documentary detailing Pancho Villa’s battle of Ojinaga, will be shown at the Fort Stockton Community Theater.

Veterans will also be commemorated at 203 S. Nelson St., a building owned by veteran Oscar Gonzalez.

The community is also encouraged to come out and watch a performance of “The Panza Monologues” by Teatro Audaz of San Antonio at our community theater. There will also be an Educational Panel Discussion at the Butz Education Center which was once the designated school for Mexicans.

On Saturday, locally owned Latino businesses that have been open 50 years or more will be honored with awards from the Texas Treasure Business Awards and the Texas Historical Commission. A car show, synonymous with Chicano culture, will be held at 10 a.m.

At 8:30 p.m., there will be a street dance featuring Nunie Rubio and the Tornado Legends.  Food vendors will be available.

The event will wrap up with Celebration Tours Sunday, Sept. 18 at the Historic St. Joseph’s Catholic Church with a 1 p.m. mass and celebration to follow.

The festival will work with Texas Tech’s Oral History Program to record interviews Thursday, Friday, and Saturday by appointment from citizens of the area in efforts to preserve historical accounts of the Mexican community in Fort Stockton.

The recordings hold the same importance as the recordings that were done in the 1930s for the narratives of African slaves. This is nothing new to the area as Texas Tech has already conducted oral histories with leaders in the community such as Pete and Amy Terrazas, as well as Ben Gallegos, and more.

Because of lack of previous documentation within the Latino community, these recordings will provide firsthand accounts of the citizens of Fort Stockton’s viewpoints.

These accounts are not only valuable to historians but to future and present citizens of West Texas who are still trying to map out their roots.

Look for more announcements and details to follow for this rich cultural event that will be sure to go down in Fort Stockton history.