Despite the wind and threat of rain, Las Vegans celebrated Dia del Niño at the Springs Preserve on April 25.
The holiday is celebrated on April 30 every year in Mexico but the celebration remains on the last Saturday of April at the Springs Preserve, located three miles from the Las Vegas strip on South Valley View Blvd.
The sixth annual event, held at the amphitheater inside of the Springs Preserve, attracted parents and children of all ages from the Hispanic community but according to one sponsor of the event, Dia del Niño is not limited to Hispanics.
“In Mexico, much like Mother’s Day or Father’s Day, there is a day of the child,” said Ramiro Lopez, 42, general manager of the Spanish broadcast television network, Telemundo Las Vegas. “It’s important to celebrate because it’s not just Hispanic, it crosses every child.”
This was Telemundo Las Vegas’ fourth year celebrating Children’s Day at the Springs Preserve where the station handed out Telemundo t-shirts to patrons. Among the families to enjoy the event was Las Vegas resident Karla Cruzado, 32.
The Cruzado family has attended every Dia del Niño event held at the Springs Preserve. She said her family keeps coming back because of how important it is to keep “tradition” alive.
Telemundo was one of many sponsors with tents set up at Dia del Niño. (Photo by Ashley Ranan)
“We are very supportive of our community,” Lopez said. “We understand the involvement and what needs to happen as a station to provide community awareness.”
Telemundo Las Vegas was one of many sponsors who had a booth at Saturday’s event. Other sponsors included Wynn Las Vegas, NV Energy and ESPN Deportes Radio.
Across from the Telemundo Las Vegas booth stood Jesus Lopez, 47, on-air talent for ESPN Deportes Radio. He was inviting his listeners to join him at the Springs Preserve event where prizes like tickets to Legoland were being given away. This was ESPN Deportes Radio’s fifth sponsorship of the event and just like Ramiro Lopez –Jesus Lopez described Dia del Niño as a universal celebration.
“In Mexico it’s an important day. Every single school in Mexico has a festival,” said Jesus Lopez “A family who has fun together stays together. You use the strength of these values but it’s hard to keep all those values especially in Vegas because mom and dad, they both work. Sometimes they have different schedules and it’s very hard for the kids to have this family reunion.”
In spite of the wind picking up, Jesus Lopez glanced around, pointed at the children and added, “This is a great day. We have mariachi music, we have a lot of Mexican things going on the way we used to have back in Mexico. This is to remind people of how important it is to be together.”