World's Largest Matanza

This family-fun event is the largest event in Valencia County and helps to raise funds to provide scholarships for Valencia County college students. The matanza is a centuries-old tradition brought to the New World by the Spanish Conquistadors in the 16th Century and is quite possibly the oldest European tradition still practiced in the Americas. Similar to a Hawaiian luau, it involves the butchering and cooking of an animal (in this case a pig). The meat is then shared by community members. The Hispano Chamber of Valencia County (HCVC) re-introduces the matanza to community members each year as a way of recognizing and honoring this Hispanic tradition. HCVC holds it's "World's Largest Matanza" each January as a way to raise money to provide college scholarships to Valencia County college students. To date, the event has raised more than $130-thousand dollars in scholarships and helped more than 200 students meet part of their financial needs. The chamber's ultimate goal is to create economic development. It believes that an educated workforce is a more productive workforce and that ultimately makes Valencia County a great place to start a business or attract existing companies to relocate one to Valencia County.