It’s Fiesta time in Twin Cities

STERLING – It’s nearly Fiesta time in the Sauk Valley.

The celebration this year takes on added significance as area Latinos celebrate 200 years of Mexico’s independence from Spain.

Festivities will kick off with Friday’s Fiesta Days Fun Fair, featuring local entertainment, food and music.

Saturday’s parade begins at 2 p.m. at First Avenue and 10th Street in Rock Falls, and ends at East Fourth Street and Fourth Avenue in Sterling.

Latin American Social Club officer Elvira Brown is busy preparing for the events.

“It is not just a Hispanic thing,” Brown said. “Everybody is welcome to come and explore the culture that we celebrate. Everyone should come and have a good time.”

As part of the bicentennial celebration, last year’s queen, Yatziry Uribe, 18, of Sterling, was asked to serve as Fiesta Queen again this year.

Uribe is the daughter of Maria del Carmen Flores and Rogelio Uribe of Sterling.

Jane Saldivar is parade marshal.

There will not be a Don and Doña this year.

There just wasn’t enough time this year for Brown to prepare to serve as the Doña, so she declined.

Brown has said she hopes to bring back the Don and Doña next year.

Schedule of events

The 59th Sterling-Rock Falls Fiesta Days Celebration kicks off Friday with a family-friendly fun fair at the Latin American Social Club. Here’s a complete schedule of the weekend’s events:

Friday

— The Fiesta Fun Fair begins at 4:30 p.m. at the Latin American Social Club, 2708 W. Lincolnway, Sterling. The party features local entertainment and Mexican food. Bilingual representatives from area businesses and social service agencies will provide information about their Hispanic services until 7 p.m. At 8 p.m., Los Amigos del Barrio will perform.

The event is free.

Saturday

— 2 p.m., Fiesta Parade; light food served afterward at the club.

The parade will begin at First Avenue and 10th Street in Rock Falls, and end at East Fourth Street and Fourth Avenue in Sterling.

Entry forms were due Aug. 28, although late entries will be honored. They are available at Grummert’s Hardware, 424 Locust St.; SBM, 501 Locust St.; the LASC, 2708 W. Lincolnway, and the Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce, 211 Locust St., all in Sterling.