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Tandil, Argentina.  As part of the Immigrant Day festivities, the city of Tandil celebrated the Festival of Communities with dance performances, music and food and culture stands.  The festival took place at the University’s Cultural Center and was attended various local authorities as well as Mayor, Migueil Lunghi and the director of tourism, Ernesto Palacios.

As related in the daily newspaper “El Eco,” the activities began with the presentation of all of the flags of communities present on stage, Germany, Spain, Bolivia, Italy, Basque Country, Thailand, Haiti, Arab, Israeli, Denmark, Peru, Venezuela, Lithuania, Peruvian-Uruguayan, and Chile “The different cultures of the immigrants that came to this generous Argentinean country, came looking for a new life and they united and made this city an example of strength and development.  Gathered in this Association of Communities of Tandil, we keep these traditions and customs alive.  The festival has been celebrated for 23 years, and each year it gets bigger demonstrating that the legacy of our ancestors will not be lost,” they said.

[Members of Gue Etxea in Tandil in charge of the food and culture booth (photo EE)]

Dance and music performances as well as food offerings were non-stop throughout the day.  The Basque club was present on stage with both young and older dancers, the choir and on the food patio as well with a spread of typical Basque dishes.  The festival was declared of cultural and municipal interest by the Honorable council, and receives support from the city, the Unicen and the Association of Communities in the province of Buenos Aires whose president is Javier Nasar.

[Dantzaris saying good-bye to the audience from the festival stage (photo EE)]

After the Festival of Communities, the Basque club in Tandil announced that on November 23rd it will again celebrate “Old Basque Romerias.”  The event began last year aimed at “resurrecting the old Basque romerias that used to be held 40 years ago or so, where folks took to the streets and the square.” The event was very well received not only at the local level but also by neighboring communities and so that encouraged the club to organize it again this year.

According to the program presented by club president, Esteban Cain, the event will begin at 19:30 with a danborrada and a parade of the participating delegations from the Basque club to the Independence Square where there will be an evening of dancing.  The choir as well as the tamborreros will also perform and the mayor of the club will be chosen.  The invitation was extended to the Delegate of Euskadi for Argentina and Mercosur, Sara Pagola; the local Mayor, Miguel Lunghi; the President of FEVA, Ricardo Basterra; and to Bishop Etcheverry as well as to other clubs in the area.  The event is free and open to the public.