LAREDO, Tex. (Hola Laredo) -
This weekend was Laredo’s 271st birthday celebration, and “proud” is the word I’d use to describe it. There’s so much love and effort going into revitalizing our city, and you can feel it through events like bird hikes, screen-printing tote bags, farmers markets, philharmonic performances, laser shows, and more!
I got to experience the day firsthand starting at Daphne Art Foundation, where I joined their soil-making workshop with Professor Sandra S.K. Amoabeng. We used natural soils and materials from the land here in Laredo, and it honestly reminded me that the love for our city is all around us. We all leave our imprint—through our footsteps, through the people who came before us, and through the land itself. Our soil and our history are so much more important than we think (and yes… we should all touch grass more lol). I played with dyes, leaves, dirt, and flowers from the ground to create a fun and beautiful portrait of the Laredo skyline.
After the art workshop, I made my way to the Webb Heritage Foundation, which was the center of the celebration. There were pastries, cakes, and cupcakes from Los Pasteles Bakery (absolutely delicious). Self-portraits from local artists and info booths from places like Laredo College and the public library filled the space—plus a friendly snake from the Imaginarium (that was scary lol). I finished that visit with a custom tote bag screen-printed “I Love Laredo” (shown on the cover of this story) by local group Tu Casa Gráfica.
While I waited for my custom portrait to be done by local artist @iribelula on Instagram, I stopped by Casa Ortiz (Laredo Culture District), where I got to witness a “Happy Birthday” performance for our city by the Laredo Philharmonic!
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To wrap up the morning, I stopped by the Outlet Shoppes of Laredo and Laredo Main Street’s farmers market. My favorite pressed juices and microgreens are always my first stop, along with fresh baked goods from local vendors. Quick break—then I made it back for the final event of the night: the laser show at San Agustín Cathedral.
That was crazy to witness because, as someone who grew up downtown and loves to bask in the beauty of our cathedral, I never thought I’d see our city in this light—both literally and figuratively. It was such a beautiful show and a reminder of what happens when a city comes together. Even though I didn’t get to do every activity, I appreciate the love and energy everyone put into creating such a beautiful day in Laredo. Support local and romanticize your city—it’s wonderful.
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