Mexican Fiesta in Totnes

Wembley has hosted the second group game of the Football World Cup. England 2 Mexico 0. A fiesta mexicana is held at the Totnes Show at Berry Farm. The high priest conducts a mise en scene of Aztec sacrificial practice to the sun god with a horseback rescue followed by a rodeo. This may be more Tex-Mex then Mex-Mex but the carnival atmosphere brings Mexican culture to South Devon where the sombrero-wearers shelter from the sun god and the conquistadores ride in to save the day!

Totnes is a town known for its diverse communities and alternative lifestyles and sits at the top of the River Dart estuary and is the seat of the South Hams District Council. An annual farm show in July is over 100 years old and together with summer carnival week in August are highlights in the local calendar. A weekly market and independent shops attract many visits all year round and economic localisation has given rise to the Totnes pound. The Totnes pound aims to keep money circulating in the local economy and reduce food and trade miles for environmental reasons. It has been so successful that the model has other towns interested. At the Mexican Fiesta perhaps the passing trade was conducted in pesos or gold.