The federal government’s increase of immigration raids in California has led the community group that organizes Madera’s Oaxacan Guelaguetza festival to cancel this year’s event.
The Guelaguetza, a celebration of Oaxacan culture, has featured traditional dances, food and music in Madera since 2023. The event, equipped to host more than 1,000 people in Madera, has traditionally been held in October in the city known for its Oaxacan community.
Comité Guelaguetza Madera, the group that organizes the event, said in a Saturday statement that its decision to cancel this year’s festival was “not taken lightly.”…