About thirty charros, or cowboys, women and children following the path of their parents, take part in a cavalgata, a horseback riding procession in downtown Half Moon Bay, as they celebrate Hispanic Heritage Day on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, which marks the Mexican Independence Day anniversary from 1810.
The horseback procession began from Venice Boulevard to Kelly Street in downtown Half Moon Bay where they encountered Banda Bejuco, of San Leandro, who led the cowboys to Mac Dutra Park. The procession ended with a horse dancing show as the ten-member band played Mexican music. There also were traditional folklore dances, arts and other attractions.
A Mexican band performs as a couple dozen men and women from different towns horseback ride and dance during the Day of Cultural (Hispanic) Heritage celebration in Half Moon Bay. @mercnewspic.twitter.com/m58670kPqM
Ezequiel Contreras, of Moss Beach, puts on spurs before riding his horse Sundance as Gabriela Ramos looks on with her horse Centennial, before taking part in the cavalgata, a horseback riding procession in Half Moon Bay, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023.. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) A cyclist rides past Ezequiel Contreras, left, and his horse Sundance and Gabriela Ramos atop Centennial, center, both of Moss Beach, before the start of the cavalgata, a horseback riding procession in Half Moon Bay, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) A couple dozen men and a woman from different towns take part in a “cavalagta,” a horseback riding procession from Venice Boulevard to Kelly Street in downtown Half Moon Bay, Calif., to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Day on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Banda Bejuco, of San Leandro, leads a cavalgata, a horseback riding procession in downtown Half Moon Bay, Calif., as they celebrate Hispanic Heritage Day on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) A charro, or cowboy, waves the Mexican flag during the cavalgata, a horseback riding procession in downtown Half Moon Bay, Calif., as they celebrate Hispanic Heritage Day on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Tamara Butler, center, of Colorado, who used to live in Half Moon Bay, and other spectators take photos and videos of the horse dancing show. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Yulisa Ponce, 11, of Keyes, shows off her horse dancing after a cavalgata, a horseback riding procession in downtown Half Moon Bay, Calif. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Adalberto Tejeda, of Moss Beach, atop his horse El Ferrari, takes part in the cavalgata, a horseback riding procession, in Half Moon Bay, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Miguel Ceja, of Sea Horse Ranch, stands atop his horse after a cavalgata, a horseback riding procession in downtown Half Moon Bay. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Eusebio Garcia and his son Ellian Garcia, 2, of Half Moon Bay, enjoy the horse dancing show. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Half Moon Bay Vice Mayor Joaquin Jimenez, left, Erick Baltazar, of the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office, and Miguel Ceja, of Sea Horse Ranch, have a good time. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Ezequiel Contreras, of Moss Beach, gets a souvenir from a driver before riding his horse, Sundance. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) People gather at Mac Dutra Park in downtown Half Moon Bay for the Hispanic Heritage Day celebration. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
