Basque Festival a feast for the taste buds, other senses

The food line was long and three-people deep. The wait was for succulent grilled lamb, turkey and chicken, mouth-watering lamb stew and an array of tasty accompaniments served at the St. Teresa Basque Festival in Fuji Park.

Proceeds from Sunday's event benefit St. Teresa of Avila School and the church's youth programs.

"It's our first year here," said Bob Mercer. He and his wife, Cathy, members of the parish and native Carsonites, were savoring the cuisine.

And while their four children were enjoying such activities as a bounce house, sack races and face-painting, the couple enjoyed a little time to themselves.

"You can let your kids go because you know everyone here," she said.

Children not inclined to eat the more sophisticated Basque fare were provided with hot dogs and hamburgers.

Enrike Corcostegui is a member of the Basque dance group Zen bat Gara, based on the University of Nevada, Reno campus. He was dressed in Basque costume and enjoying a drink before he and other members performed.

"Nice people, a nice place, a nice event, and for a good cause, too," he said. An 18-year Reno resident, Corcostegui was born in the Basque country and has danced at this event since it first was held in 1998.

Fred Perdomo and his daughter Katie also were enjoying the food and sunny weather.

"The whole celebration is great," said Perdomo, principal of Carson High School. Basques are "a huge part of our history."

"And the food - I love it," he said.

Always the educator, Perdomo talked about the history of Basques and the origin of the festival. A San Francisco native, he said many locals with Basque backgrounds are related to Basque families there.

He credits Judith Elges with the concept of St. Teresa hosting a Basque festival. She ran the K-8 school then, and was the first layperson to serve as its principal.

Festival-goers also enjoyed Basque-style verse singing, a wood-chopping contest and demonstrations of dog herding using sheep and geese.

Basques originate from areas of Spain and France extending roughly from the West Pyrenees to the Bay of Biscay, are semiautonomous, and speak their own language.

• Contact reporter Terri Harber at tharber @nevadaappeal.com or 882-2111, ext. 215.