A Presidential Soirée

Our tony town’s annual Fiesta fest kicked off with the La Recepción del Presidente for 220 traditionally garbed guests, including 18 past presidents and current incumbent Brian Schwabecher, in the Hilton’s Plaza del Sol.

After a blessing from fun loving Franciscan friar Larry Gosselin, the dancing entertainment – emceed by the ubiquitous KEYT-TV reporter John Palminteri – began with three dance troupes, as well as the Spirit of Fiesta Georgey Taupin, 16, daughter of Sir Elton John’s lyricist Bernie Taupin, and the Junior Spirit Aleenah Soriano, 10.

Among the flurry of fiesta fans were Mayor Randy Rowse, Riley and Dacia Harwood, Fritz and Gretchen Olenberger, Mark Whitehurst and Kerry Methner, Oscar Gutierrez, and David Bolton and Gonzalo Sarmiento.

A cracking starts to a fulsome week of Andalusian activities…