Black background with a flower banner at the top and the text "Ridgecrest Elementary;s 2026 Hispanic Heritage Celebration"

Ridgecrest Celebrates Hispanic Heritage!

Kelly Gatzke

October 12, 2026

On September 28, 2026, Ridgecrest held its annual Hispanic Heritage Celebration. We were honored to have such a large crowd of students and their families attend! We had a bounce pad, parents selling their wares, temporary tattoos, a maraca craft, food trucks, and Loteria.

Latin Roots Folklore dancers performed to three songs and really made the event special!

Our GATE teacher Ms. Aguilar called Loteria and we had five students who won prizes.

Bori Munchies, a Puerto Rican empanada truck, and Pinguinos Hermanos Raspados, a shaved ice truck, also came to provide food and treats to our families.

El Coyote donated salsa and chips to our families. We appreciate their kindness!

Representative Marilyn Lands donated funds to our event that we used to have pinatas for our students. It was very fun!

Mrs. Barksdale, one of our third grade teachers, took some wonderful photos for our website.

Thank to all of our teachers who stayed to help out with the event!

Mrs. Gatzke pushing a cart with decorations for the celebration.Teachers helping put up decorations before the event.Ms. Durr helping hang up the papel picado banner.Mrs. Preston unraveling one of the decorations before the event.Mrs. Treece helping decorate for the celebration.Principal Hughes, Assistant Principal Brandon, and Representative Marilyn Lands enjoying the festivities.Mrs. Wade-Beebe and Ms. Hartley manning the temporary tattoo table.Ms. Johnson before the event.Mrs. Brooks and Mrs. Preston serving chips and salsa donated by El Coyote.A second grader playing on the bounce pad.A family enjoying the festivities.Mrs. Nowoyrta helping at the craft table.Ms. Black and student enjoying the celebration.Students enjoying the bounce pad during the celebration.Pinguinos Raspados shaved ice truck at the celebration.Bori Munchies food truck served delicious empanadas at the celebration.Ms. Aguilar setting up the cards for Loteria.Ms. Aguilar calling Loteria.Ms. Aguilar checking winners cards.Student wth his prize from Loteria.Student with his basketball prize from Loteria.Loteria winner and his soccer ball prize.Loteria winner and his slime prize.Loteria winner and her sidewalk chalk prize.Student enjoying the celebration.Mrs. Ledyard and stuent enjoying the party.Ridgecrest family enjoying the party.Student enjoying the bounce pad at the celebration.Students enjoying the celebration.Students enjoying snacks at the celebration.Our PTA president talking to families about joining PTA.Students playing soccer during the party.Ms. Howard and her son enjoying the festivities.Ms. Toney and Mrs. Treece at the celebration.A Ridgecrest family enjoying raspados and the party.Mrs. Dodson and her daughter enjoying the festivities.Latin Roots Folklore before performing at the celebration.Latin Roots Folklore dancer during their performance.Latin Roots Folklore performing.Latin Roots Folklore dancers performing.A Ridgecrest family enjoying the celebration.Student enjoying the celebration and raspados.Students having fun at the event.Assistant Principal and Rep. Marilyn Lands at the party.Latin Roots Folklore ready to perform the Mexican Hat Dance.Latin Roots Folklore before performing at the celebration.Latin Roots Folklore dancers performing.Latin Roots Folklore dancers performing for Ridgecrest families.Latin Roots Folklore dancers at the event.Our Parent Coordinator, Ms. Hernandez, enjoying the event.Mr. Whetstone is ready for students to come hit pinatas.Student hitting the pinata.Student trying to break the pinata.Student trying to break the donkey pinata.Students grabbing candy from the pinata.Students gathering candy from the pinatas.