Fort Stockton Community Theater is hosting its first annual Barrio Fest to celebrate Hispanic culture with a fourday event Sept. 15-18. The event will take place in the neighborhoods (barrio) surrounding the community theater on Nelson Street with a car show, live music, historical tours, free movies in Spanish, food vendors, street dance, educational programs and much more.

“Life is coming back to the barrio,” said local artist Steven M. Walker. “Andres Madrid and his sister (Erika Madrid) are painting beautiful murals on two of my buildings on First Street. It’s just an exciting time to live in Fort Stockton with all of these colorful murals being done and this event happening. This part of town deserves to be celebrated for its rich history.”

The two murals can be seen at 207 and 208 W First St. in walking distance of the Fort Stockton Community Theater.

Artist and former Fort Stockton ISD art teacher Laurie Holman was also in talks to paint a mural during the event at 106 S. Nelson St. (formerly Sarah’s Café).

According to Holman the mural is still going to happen but will only occur during the event if time permits. Holman plans on attending the event with hopes of putting her paintbrushes to work.

The food vendors during the event will be available starting at noon on Friday and throughout the weekend. The free movies in Spanish will be shown at the Nelson Street Theater at 102 S. Nelson St. at 7 p.m. on Sept 15, 8 p.m. on Sept 16, and 7 p.m. on Sept 17. The concert and street dance featuring Nunie Rubio with the Tornado Legends will kick of 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept 17 all the way till midnight.

For full schedule of other activities and times, see page 9 of today’s paper.