Local Cinco de Mayo celebration is Saturday
WORTHINGTON — There are a few sorpresas (surprises) in store for those planning to attend Worthington’s third annual Cinco de Mayo Celebration, set for Saturday at the Long Branch Saloon.
- Cinco de Mayo
WORTHINGTON — There are a few sorpresas (surprises) in store for those planning to attend Worthington’s third annual Cinco de Mayo Celebration, set for Saturday at the Long Branch Saloon.
The children’s piñata and other favorites from prior years remain, but this weekend’s celebration will include something new. A surprise singer and an English-language band — The Roxbury Band, based in Marshall — will join the entertainment lineup.
“Last year we didn’t have enough (funds) to get more bands, but this year we have a little bit so people can come see the group in English, too,” explained event organizer Adolfo Avila, a business consultant for the Southwest Initiative Foundation.
“We are hoping next year we can bring in more American bands,” he added.
Music begins around 9:30 p.m. with bands Diferencia Extrema, Bravadillo Nortenos and Corraleros de Nuevo Leon also performing.
The first two bands feature Mexican styles of music like Duranguense, cumbia and norteño, while the Corraleros play corridos.
“Corridos sing a little story of a famous person or an individual who has done amazing things,” Avila explained. “It’s the type of music you can dance to.”
The festivities kick off at 7 p.m. with free cake and ice cream for families. Beginning at 7:30 p.m. is an opportunity for children to play piñata, a traditional Central American party game.
Next is a jalapeño-eating contest for the spice savvy at 8:30 p.m., with a grito (yelling) contest to follow at 11 p.m.
T-shirts commemorating the event — only available to sponsors last year — will be sold to the public.
“We’re trying to expand so we can include everybody. The whole point is to have fun with it and have them available to people who do want them,” Avila said. “Last year I felt bad because we only had a certain number and they were for the sponsors.”
The Worthington Area Chamber of Commerce Latino Business Owners Committee hosts the event, which is sponsored by local businesses.
Cinco de Mayo, meaning fifth of May, is a holiday celebrating the victory of the Mexican army over French forces at the Battle of Puebla in 1862.
“We try to bring the community together and have fun with it, and I think it’s worked good so far,” Avila said, expressing gratitude to the chamber and city. “This is our third year, and we’re going strong. So we’re really happy about that.”
Tags: cinco de mayo, news, worthington, celebration, mexico, spanish
More from around the web
RSS Feeds