Thread: cinco de mayo in nebraska

http://www.columbustelegram.com/article ... /news4.txt

Friday, April 29, 2005 Columbus, Nebraska
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Ag Park site of Cinco de Mayo
By JEAN WILSON/Telegram Assistant Editor

COLUMBUS - Last year more than 8,000 people attended the event - about half to celebrate their heritage, the other half to learn about the Mexican culture.

Organizer Gary Swearingen of Columbus hopes even more people attend this year's Cinco de Mayo fiesta from May 12-15 at Platte County Agricultural Park.

"The entertainment's gotten better. The food's gotten better," Swearingen said. "The event is starting to become overwhelming. We can't keep up with its growing."

The holiday of Cinco De Mayo - The Fifth of May - commemorates the victory of Mexicans over the French army at The Battle of Puebla in 1862.

It is primarily a regional holiday celebrated in the Mexican state capital city of Puebla and throughout the state of Puebla, but also is celebrated in other parts of the country and in U.S. cities with a significant Mexican population, according to www.mexonline.com.

The third annual Cinco de Mayo festival in Columbus, although celebrated a bit late, will again provide the opportunity to teach visitors the traditions of the Hispanic community. Besides Swearingen, local organizers are Socorro Rodriguez of Columbus and Joaquin Velez of Schuyler.

There are already 52 booth spaces reserved for the festivities. Including the food vendors, there will be more than 65.

Swearingen said this year's booths will better highlight products used and food eaten by Hispanics than in the previous two years. Some of the offerings are a bigger menu, low-rider bikes, clothing, boots, buckles, gold jewelry, CDs and much more.

"It's going to put a Latin pizzazz on it," he said.

One of the new events will be the Little Miss Cinco de Mayo Beauty Contest for 3- to 6-year olds of any nationality. Deadline is May 3 to register for the event, and cost is $15.

There is no entry fee for the third annual Cinco de Mayo Beauty Contest for 13- to 19-year-olds of any nationality, but there is a first place award of a $250 scholarship to Central Community College, along with other prizes. Last year, more than $1,000 worth of prizes were presented to the contest winners.

To enter either of the beauty contests, call Rodriguez at (402) 910-2882.

Also new this year is the addition of the Sangre Azteca Juniors, who will be on stage after the 4 p.m. May 14 performance of Sangre Azteca. The adult group will present regional dances from Mexico. In past performances in Columbus, the dancers wowed the crowd with its energy and expertise.

"Come out and be part of our culture," Swearingen said.

Other highlights of the four-day festival include:

n Coles Rainbow Amusement rides, as well as cotton candy, sno cones and other carnival foods.

n Piñata breaking for the kids throughout Sept. 14.

n Teen dance on May 13 which will feature DJ Romeo of 94.1 Jams and music styles, such as cumbias, hip hop, reggae, banda and Top 40 songs. There also will be a mystery guest performing live music.

n Sangre Azteca will perform at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. May 14 and 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. May 15.

n Spanish Dance on May 14 featuring the Mexican groups of Banda Nuevo Limon, Radar d Durango and Zahoma.

n Mariachi Nuevo Guachinango will sing traditional Hispanic love songs from 2-5 p.m. May 15.

n Contests of who can eat the biggest burrito or the most Jalapeños and who's the best a capella singer will take place between 1 and 7 p.m. May 15.

n Fireworks show starts at dusk on May 15.

Major sponsors of the event are Radio Universal Spanish, radio station KJSK 900 AM, Hy-Vee and the three organizers.

Is anybody at ICE paying attention?
Bring your buses.

Can't make tamales without corn husks

Can't make tamales without corn husks

Got a good chuckle out of that one.