PIÑATAFEST INFORMATION
FREQUENT QUESTIONS ASKED CONCERNING THE PIÑATAFEST EVENT
Q.  Who is responsible for organizing the Piñatafest event?
A. The Roswell Hispano Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors is ultimately responsible.  However, they have a Piñatafest Organizing Committee that reports to the Board of Directors.
Q   When is the Piñatafest  event celebrated?
A. It starts the evening of the 2nd Friday in September and runs through Sunday evening.
Q.  Where is the event celebrated?
A.  The majority of the event takes place on the lawn of the Chaves County Courthouse located on North Main St. between 4th and 5th Streets.  The Car Show portion of the event takes place on Pioneer Plaza; across (West) from the Chaves County Courthouse.
Q.  What does the Piñatafest  event consist of?
The event consists of various types of vendors. Vendors in the past have included: a variety of foods (includes Mexican, BBQ, American, Corn Roasting etc.), clothing, knick knacks, arts & crafts, toys, jewelry,  pony rides, games, kid’s bungalows, face painting, caps, sunglasses, informational booths, snow cones, beverages, etc.  It has included live entertainment featuring local groups as well as other high profile groups. Entertainment in past events have  included Mariachi music, Tex Mex music, Norteño music, Country & Western,  other types of music, folklorico dancers, other type of dancers. We consider any type of entertainment to be featured.The event also features a Parade on Saturday morning and trophies handed out for different categories.It includes a car show on Saturday with different prizes awarded in several different classes.We also have a number of piñata breaking sessions for kids arranged  by different  age groups.  Previous events have included a number of different contests such as: the jalapeño eating contest, biscochito cooking contest, the salsa making contest, karaoke contest.  We are open to any suggestions that can better the event.  One of the main attractions of this event that has become a tradition, is the Sunday mass service performed by Catholic Bishop Ricardo Ramirez of the Las Cruces Diocese.

Each year the Pinatafest Committee strives to improve the event to attract as many individuals  as possible.  They are opened to any  suggestion(s) that will help improve the event.  If you have any suggestion(s), you can call the RHCC office at 575-624-0889 or e-mail your ideas to director@roswellhccc.org.
Piñatafest is a cultural celebration that coincides with Mexico’s Independence day (September 16) from Spain.    The founders of this celebration in Roswell were the fore-fathers  of the Roswell Hispano Chamber of Commerce.  Mr. R.G. (Bobby)  Villegas, one of the original founders and first President of the Roswell Hispano Chamber of Commerce was also the director for fundraising for the children’s network.  He presented the  idea to the board of directors for a celebration event to raise funds and promote the city’s businesses. 

The first year, the event was called the Charreada Rodeo.   This was the Mexican version of the American Rodeo.  The following year, Mr. Villegas presented a new plan to the board of directors for approval.  The new plan was to combine the Charreada Rodeo and activities of the Piñatafest and call it the Gran Charreada which was even more successful.   Due to some issues with the rodeo aspect of the event, the Board of Directors decided to drop the rodeo part and continue with the Piñatafest activities.

Piñatafest was implemented to create a more family oriented event.  Part of this plan included involving the schools and children.   Board of Directors members of the Roswell Hispano Chamber of Commerce met with the RISD personnel and presented their plan to have a student competition for the best piñata.  Mr. Villegas made trips to Mexico to pick up supplies and delivered them to the schools so the students could begin to make their creative piñatas. 

It was important to the Roswell Hispano Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors for this celebration to be held downtown.    In addition to celebrating a cultural event downtown,  this event would also help to promote the local downtown merchant’s businesses.

This event has been  successful and has grown each year.  It has become a staple event of  the Roswell Hispano Chamber of Commerce and is held annually to help draw the family, businesses and community closer together in the hopes of developing a strong community.

Today, the Roswell Hispano Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors is working hard and striving to create more history and a unified community for our future generation.

If you are interested in participating as a vendor in the 2011 Piñatafest Event and would like to apply, click on the Vendor Application link above. You can copy it, complete it and send it to:

RHCC
Attn:  Piñatafest Committee
327 N. Main Street
Roswell, NM  88201

As much as possible we will assign vendors spaces on a first come first serve basis.   To view layout of  vendor spaces, click on the Vendor Map Layout link above.  Booth numbered   1-9A & 44-47  are trailer spaces only.

Vendor Spaces prices are as follows:

Non-Profit Organ. Inform.Only -$ 50.00
Informational Only  -  $ 75.00
Booth (No Electricity)  -    $125.00
Booth With Electricity  -          $150.00
Basic dimensions for all booths except trailer spaces are approx:  12’ x 15’.

For information concerning availability of vendor spaces and general information, please contact the RHCC office at 575-624-0889.
You can also contact us by fax or e-mail.  Send e-mail to director@roswellhcc.org or fax to 575-624-0538
FOR CAR SHOW ENTHUSIASTS
Mr. Felipe Rodriguez volunteered to serve on the Pñatafest committee  and has been responsible for the outstanding Piñatafest Car Show under his direction for a number of years. The Piñatafest Car Show is held on Saturday on the Pioneer Plaza.  It is generally held behind the old Conoco Station located on the corner of Main St. and 5th St.  The Car Show generally runs from 08:00 am to 06:00 pm.

If you have a vehicle you have been working on, this is a fantastic way of showcasing your piece of art while at the same time competing for prizes in the different categories.  If you don’t have a piece of art to showcase but love to see someone else’s piece of art, there is no charge for stopping by and viewing the beautiful cars, pickups, motorcycles and bikes in display.

For more information, you can contact the RHCC  If interested in submitting an application, click on Car Show Application Link on the top left of this page, complete it and send it to:
Roswell Hispano Chamber of Commerce
Attn:  Piñatafest Committee
327 N. Main Street
Roswell, NM  88201
This page was last updated: December 5, 2011















2010 PINATAFEST
The RHCC BOD and the 2010 Pinatafest Committee would like to thank all the businesses that supported our event by purchasing ads for the 2010 Pinatafest Program.  They are:
MAJOR SPONSORS:
Chaves County Administration
City of Roswell Recreation Dept.
Eastern New Mexico University - Roswell
Leprino Foods
Roswell Chaves County EDC
Roswell Job Corps
S.O.Y. Mariachi Lions Club
Xcel Energy
OTHER SPONOSORS:
5-C Construction
AFSCME Local 3199
Anderson-Bethany Funeral Home & Crematory
Auto Aid Services
Ballard Funeral Home & Crematory
Bernice Valenzuela - Southwest Ins. Services
Bob Hazel - EXIT Realty
Boby Villegas Farmers Ins. Agency
Bullock's
Calico Cow Quilting
Chuck Hanson - REMAX of Roswell
Chuy's Burritos
Click Fashion Club
Coca Cola Bottling Company
Community Foundation of Chaves County
Copy-Rite
Creative Impulse
CRM Discount Awards
Dan Coleman - EXIT Realty
Desert Sun & Salespersons:
  • Brian Price
  • Danny Ogg, Jr.
  • David Robey
  • Freddie Sosa
  • Freddie Washington
  • Fritz Freese

  • Joe Calloway
  • Kirk Weems
  • Martin Hernandez
  • Rafael Sanchez
  • Robert Aragon
  • Tracy Mounts
Don Bartlett - EXIT Realty
Don Humter - New York Life Financial Services
Edie Stevens - La Quinta Inn
Edubina Morales Farmers Ins. Agency
El Charro Mexican Food Industries
El Toro bravo Restaurant
Eastern New Mexico Medical Center
Farmer's Country Market
Fatt Kidds
Frontier Medical Services
Graves Farms
Jet Auto Glass
John Buckmister - Benchmark
John Jerge, CPA, P.C.
Larry Fresquez, Coldwell Bankers
Lolly Zamora - CORE Financial Services
Marine Corps League
Martin's Capitol Cafe
Miranda Pest Control
My Investments Inc.
NFERNO
Nicole Vargas - Farmers Ins.
Otero Federal Credit Union
Peppers Grill & Bar
Pioneer Bank
Plateau Wireless - Eva Nuñez
Popo's Restaurant
Pro-Steamers
Roswell Museum & Art Center
Roswell Jazz Festival
Roswell Little Theater
Sheer Elegance & Boutique
Shirley Childress - REMAX of Roswell
Starla Nuñez - Century 21
Tascosa Office Machines
Terri Elliott Farmers Ins. Agency
Tobosa Developmental Services
Toys for Tots
WESST Corp