Fiesta Day is Sept. 1. Here's what to know about the Colorado State Fair's biggest day

Fiesta Day has solidified itself as the most popular day to attend the Colorado State Fair — over 77,000 visitors came to last year's statewide celebration of Hispanic heritage and culture.

Traditionally celebrated the Sunday before Labor Day, the 57th annual Fiesta Day extravaganza will take place Sept. 1. Visitors to the fairgrounds on this day can expect to see colorful folklórico performances, hear mariachi music, taste traditional Mexican cuisine and more.

There's also the mariachi mass in Ray Aguilera Park, the Fiesta Day Parade through Bessemer, the Charreada rodeo and the Fiesta Day Pageant. Here's what to know about the upcoming Fiesta Day at the 2024 Colorado State Fair.

What to know about the Fiesta Day Parade

Fiesta Day kicks off with the mariachi mass at 8 a.m. This year's parade, themed "Culture in Bloom," will begin at 10 a.m.

A procession of charros, cheerleaders, classic cars, floats, folklórico dancers and musicians will march north along Evans Avenue from Baystate Avenue to Northern Avenue, travel west along the Northern Avenue stretch from Evans to Beulah Avenue and finish the parade by traveling south along Beulah Avenue to Sprague Avenue before returning to the 1600 E. Abriendo staging area.

Rose Mary Ayala, the Fiesta Day Queen crowned at the inaugural celebration in 1967, will serve as the parade's grand marshal. Connie Solano de Benavidez, founder of Ballet Folklorico de la Raza, will serve as an honorary parade marshal.

Meet the 2024 Fiesta Queen

Karina Ruiz Salcido, a 2023 graduate of Pueblo East High School, reigns as the 2024 Fiesta Queen. She was awarded the title and a $5,500 scholarship following the 57th Annual Fiesta Scholarship Pageant on June 22.

She currently attends the University of Colorado Colorado Springs and aspires to work in broadcast journalism. She is the daughter of Aron Ruiz Salcido and Elizabeth Reyes. In addition to being active in several extracurricular activities, she has volunteered with National Honors Society activities, Junior Achievement and the Pueblo Food Project.

"Being Fiesta Queen is definitely a dream come true," Ruiz Salcido told the Chieftain. "I think being a role model for younger generations to come, it's just an amazing opportunity to shine a light on my culture and really embrace my culture respectively."

Ruiz Salcido will join fellow members of the 2024 Fiesta Day Court on the Colorado State Fair's Pepsi Stage for a ceremony at 3 p.m. Other members of the court include 1st Attendant Brielle Baca, 2nd Attendant Aleah Cruz, 3rd Attendant Dulce Valenzuela and Miss Congeniality Alondra Solis Ayala.

What else is happening on Fiesta Day?

The fair's Big R Stage will host the popular Celebración de los Charros at 7 p.m. The celebration will be followed by a Skyworx Drone Show at 9:15 p.m. and a musical performance by Banda El Recodo at 9:30 p.m.

Performances celebrating Hispanic and Latino culture will take place throughout the fairgrounds on Fiesta Day. This includes a 1 p.m. Ballet Folklorico Showcase on the Pepsi Stage, along with various musical performances at the American Furniture Warehouse Amphitheater and PB&T Bank Pavilion from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.

A comprehensive schedule of performances is available at coloradostatefair.com .

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Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached at JBartolo@gannett.com. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Fiesta Day is Sept. 1. Here's what to know about the Colorado State Fair's biggest day