euskalkultura.eus

Parker, Colorado, USA. Sunday, August 10, will be picnic-day for the Basque community in Colorado. Last year they celebrated their 10^th anniversary and gave a commemorative plaque to the founder of Colorado Euskal Etxea Michael Matassa. This year, the novelty is that there will be Basque merchandising on sale thanks to Barbot Etchepare Basque Imports. Also, like they have done in previous years, a raffle will be organized and the winner will get 50% of the money gathered from ticket sales while the other half will be for the Basque Club.

“The picnic is the best fund raising of the year,” said Petracek. “With that money we finance the club but we’d also love to have some extra money to help projects and to participate with other clubs at the time of bringing speakers and musicians from the Basque Country.”

'Mendiko Jaia' or Mountain Festival, as they like to call this picnic, will run from noon until 4:30 p.m. at Lions Park, in Golden (CO), "right where the Coors factory is", as explained by the club's president. Around 50 pounds of lamb chops donated by Superior Farms will be served, along with chicken, txorizo, green and tomato salads, gateau Basque, and cheese. Activities will include a performance by the Utah'ko Triskalariak dance group, from Salt Lake City. “We are small to have our own dance group so we have to borrow dancers from other clubs,” said Petracek, with a smile.

Last year’s “Mendiko Jaia” gathered around 80 people, in the words of the president, “so we expect the same amount of people this year too.” “Comparing to other picnics in California this is not as big, but we have a good time and it’s a good opportunity to show the uniqueness of our culture, and not just to Basques.”