We went to the El Tigre festival in Tigard this weekend. It is pretty awesome that Tigard has become less lily-white* in the years since I graduated from Tigard High School, and even better to see the city celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with a festival. We ate pupusas and drank mangonadas in the sunshine. The boy asked for paletas a million times but then, by the time, we got to the front of the line, he changed his mind and got a raspado.
The musical lineup was a big factor. As climate change turns the Portland area into what is essentially Modesto with Douglas firs, actual Modesto combo Valley Wolf played a delightful set, including their woozy end-of-summer jam "Corazón." It was as good as I had hoped. We danced in the wildfire-smoke-filtered sunshine while thirsty bees drank the bubblegum-scented liquid from the raspado my kid spilled.
There's a charming video for you to watch:
*(Note: Tigard High's mascot is, indeed, the Tigers - shocker - but in my high school days I made a lot of jokes about how it should be the Lilies)
