The MSJC spring semester kicked off with “Baile de Noche,” an extravaganza full of dancing, food, cars, and prizes! On January 26th, the Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán (M.E.Ch.A.) celebrated its third anniversary with “Baile de Noche,” a celebration that invited all students and clubs to participate. Its club is rooted in student activism to promote higher education, culture, and history. More than ever, this is a perfect time to celebrate, as Hispanics/Latinx students make up the majority of students at MSJC. 

“Baile de Noche” was a wonderful event that celebrates Latin American culture with a decor of Latin flags, colorfully dressed dancers, and classic Latin music. Local folk dancers, baile folklorico dancers, came from Temecula Valley High School to MSJC to perform a lively dance full of swinging and “grietas,” or yelling. The performance was nothing short of amazing and endearing to those who came to experience and recapture the culture with their friends and families.

To complement this came savory and delicious Mexican cuisine straight off the grills of the food truck “Tacos Birria El Flaquito.” On another side, a local shop came to sell glamorous jewelry and, for all the sneakerheads, sneaker keychains. 

To all the car enthusiasts in Riverside County, the parking lot was packed with a vast array of novelty cars. From Chevy’s to GMC’s, there was nothing uninteresting about these cars, with their vibrant colors, neon lights, and wheels that raise the car four feet in the air. 

To close the celebration, we all sang Happy Birthday to M.E.Ch.A, and cake was served. The final activity was a raffle and many participants won jar-shaped glass mugs and other goodies. 

Overall, the event was an amazing time for all students to come and celebrate the Hispanic/Latinx culture and enjoy a night of dazzling performances with savory treats. If you missed this event, don’t worry! M.E.Ch.A plans on kicking off more events later in the semester, so keep a look out on M.E.Ch.A’s Instagram.