Fiesta’s Centennial Finale

The 100th anniversary of Fiesta came to a glorious close with the 25th anniversary of the Fiesta Finale when 170 guests descended on the historic El Paseo restaurant raising around $100,000 for the John E. Profant Foundation for the Arts which helps musicians, dancers, artists, actors and authors chart their career paths.

More than $250,000 has been awarded to youngsters of all ages since the foundation was started by Lyn Profant in her husband Jack’s memory after his death in 1994.

The fun fête’s entertainment program featured the Martinez Brothers, vocalist Dennis Diaz, a parade of Brosik masks, Marisol Cabrera dancing escuela bolera, pianist Gil Rosas’ tribute to 100 years, a scintillating samba show with Grace Shuck and Adam Sanderson, a piano performance from recent scholarship recipient Cainan Birchim, 17 (who is attending Idyllwild Arts Academy this fall), a live auction conducted by the ubiquitous author and speaker Erin Graffy – with lots including diamond jewelry, a dinner for two at bouchon, brunch and a round of golf for two at Birnam Wood, and lunch for four at the Little Town Club with Franciscan friar Larry Gosselin who worked with Mother Theresa of Calcutta – the Don Quixote pas de deux by Rachel Hutsell and Eduard Sargsyan, popular opera selections by Camila Lima and Felipe Prado, and a tableau vivant of Spanish Dancers by Walter Harton with Lakshmi Basile, Aldo Ruiz, and Tina Love.

Among the flood of dashingly garbed fiesta fans were Anne Towbes, Mayor Randy Rowse, Rick Oshay and Teresa Kuskey, Riley and Dacia Harwood, Peter Hilf, Maria McCall, George and Laurie Leis, Brenda Blalock, Fred Brander, Frank Tabar, Mary Collier, James Garcia, David Bolton, Rebecca Brand, Ralph and Diane Waterhouse, Keith Moore, Hiroko Benko, and Stephanie Petlow.