First Fiesta Fridays held on NMI Museum grounds

NMI Museum director Daniel Aquino Jr. delivers his welcome remarks during the first night of Fiesta Fridays last week on the grounds of the NMI Museum. (LEIGH GASES)

On the first of many Friday nights to come, the inaugural Fiesta Fridays was held last week at the NMI Museum grounds which welcomed a crowd of over 400 people.

There were a total of 13 vendors which included V Lynn’s BBQ, Mini Thai Catering, APU, Abegnales, Chowtime, Heavenly Bites, RJ’s Pizza, Tyler’s Gelatte Stone, Island Shave Ice 4 U, Hybrid Shop, Islandry670, Aofia’s, Lalofa Lava-Flowerpot Creations, Magpag Inc., and COVID-19 Care Force, which gave out COVID-19 test kits and free water.

Fiesta Fridays will take place at the NMI Museum grounds every Friday thereafter from 5:30pm to 9:30pm.

Throughout the night, there were performances by Zumba group M2 Fitness, Ray Peter, and Petlas Marianas.

For the night’s welcome remarks by NMI Museum director Daniel Aquino Jr., he said “I want to just say thank you from the bottom of my heart. We anticipated a crowd, but we didn’t think that it would be this big. And I just want to personally thank everybody for coming out, taking their time to support the museum. And always remember that these events are for you guys.”

He then thanked M2 Fitness for donating $2,000 to the NMI Museum.

Kimberly Edquiba Iabeta, a kindergarten teacher from Koblerville Elementary School, was seen at the grounds with her family and was asked her thoughts of the event.

“For me, the location is convenient. I can just walk here. It’s walking distance from where I live, but I think parking is a problem. It’s hard for people to find parking and there’s always traffic in this area when there’s events here. That’s the only problem.”

But she added that “it’s good that it will be every Friday and that there should be more vendors.”

In a separate interview with Archie Ajoste, a guide at the museum, he said “there will be bouncy houses for the kids, performances, and great food. In the near future, we will incorporate lipsyncing, karaoke, and battle of the bands competition. Who knows, maybe one of the Fridays, we might [collaborate] with others to get famous singers or dancers to perform.”

Ajoste went on to thank Dave Electronics for the sponsorship of the truss stage and LED lighting for the stage and the Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services, Bureau of Environmental Health Sanitation, and Department of Public Safety for making the event possible.

“Without them, we might [have] postponed having to start Fiesta Fridays. Thanking all the vendors, Marianas Inflatables for the bouncy houses, the performers and emcees. And also thanks especially [to] the people who came out to support the museum.”

He also said “more entertainment and more vendors will be joining next Friday.”