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Fiesta Music Draws Many Downtown
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Fiesta Riverbank with mariachi bands, Mexican food and other attractions drew an estimated 200 to 300 people to the downtown Plaza Del Rio on Saturday.

The temperature was near 90 degrees and a lack of shade trees noticeable at 3 p.m., when the event started but the crowd grew and their spirits rose as it grew cooler until the close at 8 p.m.

"People I've spoken to said they'd love to see the fiesta come back next year but it should start later in the day," said Norma Torres-Manriquez of City Hall.

Banda Monte Verde, Rondalla de Guadalupe de Sacramento and Mariachi Los Tapatios made music for a relaxed crowd. Children wandered off eastwards on Santa Fe Street to watch a marionette show staged by a young couple called Fratello Marionettes in front of Landon's Clothing store. A few determined skateboarders did demonstrations for Street Science of Tracy on apparatus set in the street despite the heat.

Attracting the hungry, Taqueria La Chiquita of Riverbank did great business as the only food provider for the event. Manriquez noted this is actually a meat market located on Stanislaus Street but turned itself into a taqueria for the occasion.

The advertised health fair housed in tents included organizations such as El Concilio of Modesto, Wells Fargo Bank, Lakewood Memorial Park and Central Valley Swim, which teaches safety around water for infants and families.

Sponsors besides the city included Riverbank's Don Francisco/Rizo Lopez Foods and El Rosal Restaurant plus Wells Fargo Bank and the Three Amigos Auto Center of Modesto.