Valley children, organizations help put together Hue Music and Arts Festival

Many children in the East Valley filled the city of Mecca with music and arts Saturday, with the 6th annual Hue Music and Arts Festival at Mecca Community Park.

The event featured works by local students, and a variety of booths and activities.

Organizers from Building Healthy Communities said the festival helps raise awareness about the importance of the arts, while bridging a gap with children in the East Valley.

“Most people relate with music, and most people relate with art,” Building Healthy Communities Project Manager Victor Gonzalez said. “One of the biggest obstacles sometimes is engaging youth. So for us, having us engaging youth from the marketing, to organizing, to social media, to reaching out to the bands, the youth are really at the forefront of planning this event.”

Students at the festival said it’s important to also recognize their heritage, while engaging in arts and music.

“Even though they don’t live in Mexico, El Salvador, any place they are, they can still have a little piece of it here,” Desert Mirage High School Sophomore Gabriela Estrada said. “It’s important they don’t leave their roots in the back. Just because they’re in a new place, doesn’t mean that they have to start all over again to be someone that they are not.”