Fiesta time! What to know about Cristo Rey Church's annual party

Susan Vela, Lansing State Journal
Youngsters from Cristo Rey Church’s children's group dance a folk perform a folk dance from northern Mexico at the 2015 Fiesta.
Youngsters from Cristo Rey Church’s children's group dance a folk perform a folk dance from northern Mexico at the 2015 Fiesta.

LANSING — For nearly 50 years, Cristo Rey Church has held an annual fiesta known for its food, mercado, music, and dancing.

The annual event celebrating the Hispanic community's heritage is the church's largest fundraiser of the year, and, each year, there's a little something extra added to the celebration, often to reflect changes in the region's Spanish-speaking population.

Expect that same interesting twist at this year's fiesta, which will run Friday through Sunday at the church, 201 W. Miller Road.

Fiesta Director Guillermo Lopez, who has been with the church for decades, offers three reasons to attend.

"One, to have fun. Two, to eat. And three — this should be the first but, you know — three is to support the church and its mission."

Here's what to know about the three-day festival happening this Memorial Day weekend:

Horas de la fiesta

Cristo Rey's fiesta hours are set for 4-11 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m. to 10:50 p.m. on Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.

Lopez, Cristo Rey's pastor, the Rev. Vincent Richardson, and Mayor Andy Schor are scheduled to be part of Friday's official 5 p.m. welcome. Other highlights will include mariachi music and a live band, JR Aldaco and the Midwest Allstars.

Los Ninos de Cristo Rey will give a Saturday performance. On Sunday, there will be a 1:30 p.m. presentation of colors and a 3:15 p.m. performance by Fantasia Ballet Folklorico.

For the most up-to-date program schedule, visit www.cristoreyfiesta.org.

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Entrance fees, parking

The main tent at the Cristo Rey Fiesta is jammed with people enjoying their lunches.
The main tent at the Cristo Rey Fiesta is jammed with people enjoying their lunches.

Donations of $5 will be welcomed, and there will be free shuttle parking service from North Elementary School, 333 E. Miller Road.

Familiar faces at the fiesta

Fantasia Ballet Folklorico is one of many groups who will perform at the Cristo Rey Fiesta Memorial Day weekend.
Fantasia Ballet Folklorico is one of many groups who will perform at the Cristo Rey Fiesta Memorial Day weekend.

Lopez said people often attend Cristo Rey's fiesta because it's an opportunity to see old friends and acquaintances. Some will visit each day of the fiesta.

"Many people come in and out to buy food," Lopez said. "Then they come back the next day to buy food, (and) then the next day to buy food."

What's on the menu?

The fiesta is known for "authentic Mexican cuisine," and, in years past, that has meant gorditas, menudo, fajitas, barbacoa tacos, pan dulce (sweet bread), raspas (snow cones) and more.

Visit the mercado

These youngsters have fun looking at merchandise in the Mercado section at the annual Cristo Rey Church Fiesta fundraiser Saturday.
These youngsters have fun looking at merchandise in the Mercado section at the annual Cristo Rey Church Fiesta fundraiser Saturday.

The fiesta will feature a "mercado," or marketplace, with vendors offering and showcasing an assortment of traditional costumes and arts and crafts from the various Latin countries.

Contact editor Susan Vela at svela@lsj.com or 248-873-7044. Follow her on Twitter @susanvela.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Fiesta time! What to know about Cristo Rey Church's annual party

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