Colorado State Fair Fiesta Committee Announces 2026 Fiesta Day Parade Grand Marshals and Honorary Ma

For Immediate Release
August 24, 2026
 

PUEBLO, Colo. — The Colorado State Fair Fiesta Committee is proud to announce Juan and Deborah Mora Espinosa as the Grand Marshals and John Carrero, Jr. as the Honorary Marshal for the 59th Annual Colorado State Fair Fiesta Day Parade, taking place Sunday, September 6, 2026.

Fiesta Day is a longstanding Colorado State Fair tradition that celebrates Hispanic culture, heritage and community while bringing together participants and visitors from across Colorado.

Juan and Deborah Mora Espinosa, the 2026 Grand Marshals, have called Pueblo home since 1975 and have spent decades contributing to journalism, education, history, the arts and cultural preservation. They are the proud parents of four daughters: Catalina, Alicia, Neva and Estrella. Juan was one of the founders of La Cucaracha Newspaper. He later worked as a reporter, editor and writer of a popular column, “Juan’s World” for The Pueblo Chieftain, and taught Chicano Studies at Centennial for 14 years. In 2022, the Regents of the University of Colorado awarded Juan an honorary doctorate degree. In his retirement, Juan writes for and edits LaCucarachaNews.com, an online publication.

Deborah served as director of El Pueblo Museum for 26 years, helping move the museum to its current location on Union Avenue and strengthening its role as an important cultural destination. She also produced “The Song of Pueblo,” a musical history of Pueblo, with Juan serving as artistic director. Both remain active in the community through EMS – El Movimiento Sigue and have supported the Colorado State Fair and Fiesta Committee for decades.

John Carrero, Jr., the 2026 Honorary Marshal, was born and raised in Pueblo and has been connected to the Colorado State Fair Fiesta Committee since he was three years old. His life reflects resilience, family, faith and perseverance. After overcoming early expectations surrounding his cognitive disability, John graduated from high school, built an independent life and remained deeply devoted to his hometown and family.

Since being diagnosed with Common Variable Immune Deficiency in 2017, John has faced significant medical challenges while remaining focused on his wife, Anna, and their children, Amoura and Elias. His courage and determination make him a fitting choice for this year’s Honorary Marshal.

The 59th Annual Colorado State Fair Fiesta Day Parade will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, September 6, 2026, continuing a tradition that honors culture, family and community as part of the Colorado State Fair.
The Colorado State Fair Fiesta Committee congratulates Juan and Deborah Mora Espinosa and John Carrero, Jr. and looks forward to recognizing them during this year’s Fiesta Day Parade.

Contact:
Susan Huertas, Colorado State Fair Fiesta Committee President susan@fiestacommittee.org
Ken Bueno, Colorado State Fair Parade Chair parade@fiestacommittee.org

1001 Beulah Ave. Pueblo, CO 81004
www.fiestacommittee.org