Bounce house, cotton candy machine, free popcorn new at this year’s celebration
Cinco de Mayo has grown in popularity over time and has become more of a traditional Americanized holiday. In Whitewater, it has become a highly celebrated community event.
This year’s event will be held at 4 p.m. Thursday in Starin Park.
“Cinco de Mayo is a great way to bring our campus and Latin communities together,” said Chris Hollar, the leadership adviser helping with the event.
A cotton candy machine, bounce house for children and free popcorn are just a few new additions to the annual Whitewater Cinco de Mayo festival this year.
Latinos Unidos and Better Communications ESL have teamed up with the Career and Leadership Development program to run the event from 4 – 8 p.m. Thursday in Starin Park.
The event features a traditional Latina dance performed by an ALMA dancer and a poem dedicated to Cinco de Mayo read by Yadira Amador.
Other activities include piñatas, carnival games, face paintings and crafts using colorful tissue paper. Local Whitewater business La Tienda Mexicana San Jose will serve Mexican food throughout the event.
Gama Alpha Omega will also participate in the festival by serving the popular Mexican drink horchata. Latin music will be played by a disc jockey between performances.
The event is free and encouraged for students and community members to attend.
“I’m real excited; we have a good location with a nice shelter in Starin Park to celebrate in this year,” Hollar said.
Students were able to get involved with the event this year by making flyers that were sent out to elementary, middle and high schools.
“The flyers were written in both English and Spanish and explained the history of Cinco de Mayo and also about the fun activities planned for the event,” Hollar said.
The event has had large crowds over previous years and expects to increase attendance this year.
“The event brings a sense of community within the community, it shows how we can all get along and we can all connect and enjoy each other in activities,” Hollar said.
