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FOURTH ANNUAL WAILA CELEBRATION
May 20, 2023 @ 4:00 pm - 11:00 pm MST
Desert Diamond Casinos & Entertainment invites the community to the fourth annual Waila Celebration at its Sahuarita location Plaza on Saturday, May 20, 2023. Featuring Tohono O’odham Waila music, food, and arts & craft vendors, the event runs from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Attendance is free and is open to all ages. This is the first Waila Celebration to be hosted at the Sahuarita casino since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Waila is a type of social dance music originally adopted by the Tohono O’odham from the Spanish and melded into a unique genre. Contemporary Waila bands typically feature an accordion, alto saxophone, electric six-string, bass guitar, and drums. For the Waila Celebration on May 20, six fantastic bands will perform. They include: Mumsigo, the T.O. Youth Group, the Cruz Band, the Lopez Band, the T.O. Braves, and Gertie & the T.O. Boyz.
There will also be a special performance by the Kwaliyadam Dance Group.
Treena Parvello, Director of Government and Public Relations for the Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise, said, “We’re very proud to celebrate the rich history of Waila music with the Southern Arizona community. Come join us May 20 to experience this unique O’odham music from some of the top Waila bands!”
Desert Diamond Casinos & Entertainment, with three locations in Southern Arizona (Tucson, Sahuarita, and Why) and one in the West Valley in Glendale, AZ, is owned and operated by the Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise, an enterprise of the Tohono O’odham Nation. Additional information can be found at www.ddcaz.com or by calling 866-DDC-WINS.