Camp Sherman hosts fall festival

A festive holiday crowd jammed the Camp Sherman Community Hall for Mexican dinner and a presentation of world cultures by Black Butte School on Friday, October 30.

Students presented song and dance from various world cultures as part of Camp Sherman's Fall Festival.

The hall was colorfully decorated with paper cutouts made by students.

Outside, lanterns dimly lit the entrance way.

Exhibits inside highlighted some of the student projects including masks made in conjunction with the Africa Quest program, an Internet African/U.S schools project that Black Butte School is participating in (The Nugget, "Black Butte School goes on safari," October 28, p. 6).

Susan Dearborn Jackson's presentation on El Dia de Los Muertos - Day of the Dead - was a highlight of the program. Jackson has lived and studied in Southern Mexico and she displayed her slides demonstrating traditions of this holiday as practiced in remote Mexican villages.

She described her observations of Mexican cultural celebration of the dead on this holiday and demonstrated many children's toys commemorating the occasion. Many of the figure dolls represent various professions - teachers, beauticians, doctors, priests and more. Also, the dolls represent activities people liked in this life and what they will be doing after death in their next life.

A large alter shrine, which is typical for this Mexican holiday, was displayed with various foods and flowers.

"What a wonderful event to have in the fall of the year," said Fran Head, a local resident. "The decorations, good food and community interaction are great."