San Juan Bautista
– Sleepy San Juan streets will be crowded this weekend with
vendors, dancers, artists and spectators for the 22nd Annual Indian
Market and Peace Pow Wow, a long standing tradition that educates
and entertains thousands of people each year.
San Juan Bautista – Sleepy San Juan streets will be crowded this weekend with vendors, dancers, artists and spectators for the 22nd Annual Indian Market and Peace Pow Wow, a long standing tradition that educates and entertains thousands of people each year.
“This is something that really benefits the entire public,” said Laynee Reyna, the event’s founder. “We want to help bridge cultures to cultures and help people love each other more.”
The Indian market attracts artists and performers from as far as Washington, Utah and Central and South America, said Reyna, who travel to the mission city each year to share their cultures and traditions. Vendors and craftsmen offer basketry, dolls, dream-catchers, drums, jewelry, paintings, pottery, sculpture, and weavings for show and sale.
“What we really want is a mix of all people, because that’s our vision,” said Reyna.
What separates San Juan’s market from similar festivals is its focus on world peace, said Reyna, in fact the concept behind the event is that it is a “living prayer for world peace.” The focus was inspired by Reyna’s experience as a wartime medic when she was still in her teens, and her first-hand experience with the horrors of war.
“I’ve seen what it can do to people, to human beings” she said. “And building that circle of peace is so important now because we are losing our military men every day, and that causes a lot of anxiety for everybody.”
Special performances honoring veterans and those who promote peaceful living in their own homes will be conducted, which the audience will be invited to participate in, both days the festival is running. Aztec dancers from Central America will also be performing in celebration of Cinco De Mayo, commemorating the Mexican victory over the French.
The Indian Market was born 22 years ago, when Reyna says she dreamed about a multi-cultural market held in the Mission San Juan Bautista.
“I told my former husband about my dream, and he paid attention to me and said “Well, I better take you to the Santa Fe Indian Market,'” she said.
While there, Reyna learned about the logistics of putting on such an event and invited artists and vendors to attend her market later in the year. When the market was held that summer in the mission’s olive grove, it was the first festival of its kind ever held in California, she said.
Today the market features activities for children and teens and attracts tourists from all over the state as well as participants.
“An event like this that brings people into town to promote history and teach them about different cultures, that’s where San Juan wants to take its future events,” said City Manager Jan McClintock. “I’m excited to see it this weekend.”
The market will be held this Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 7pm. Visitors over age 12 are asked to donate $1 for admission to benefit nonprofit arts events in the future. For more information call 623-2379 or visit www.peacevision.net
Danielle Smith covers education for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or [email protected]
