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Waila Celebration
October 7, 2023 @ 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm MST
Desert Diamond Casinos & Entertainment invites the community to a special Waila Celebration at its Why location parking lot on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. Featuring Tohono O’odham Waila music, food, and arts & craft vendors, the event runs from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Attendance is free and is open to all ages. This is the first Waila Celebration to be hosted at the Why location near Ajo.
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 Oct. 7, five fantastic bands will perform. They include: O’odham Warriors, T.O. Natives, American Indians, Carl N Buddies – Kwaliya, and Gertie N the T.O. Boyz.
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 community at our Why casino. Join us Oct. 7 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. Follow Desert Diamond Casinos & Entertainment on Twitter (@DiamondCasinos), Facebook (@DDCAZ), and Instagram (@DiamondCasinos).