Members of the Battle Mountain Oberenak Club held their summer picnic at Lions Park Aug. 23. This year the picnic was a potluck with guests and members bringing many dishes to accompany Basque chorizo sandwiches, which were sold for $4 each. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages were also available for purchase. Kids competed in egg carrying and sack race contests. After a chorizo and samples of many different side dishes, dessert, and a beverage, guests were treated to watching the Battle Mountain Oberenak Basque dancers. They celebrate their heritage at its finest by showing their audience many of the dances they spend so much time learning throughout the year. Their instructor, Alison Itza, deserves a lot of credit for her dedication in teaching the kids the music and stories of each dance so they can entertain a crowd. Mary Bengoa and volunteers did a great job hosting the picnic. The club uses the money it makes at these events to take the dancers to competitions around the state of Nevada and Idaho. The weather for the picnic was beautiful. After the Oberenak dancers performed for their audience, the crowd was welcome to stay and enjoy more music by DJ Jesse Diaz.
Photos by Jan Ehlert, Special to the Bugle[[In-content Ad]]
