Getting a jump on Cinco de Mayo

The traditional Mexican celebration comes a day early to Clearwater. Expect plenty of music, food and crafts.

By EILEEN SCHULTE
© St. Petersburg Times
published May 3, 2002

CLEARWATER -- Cinco de Mayo, a Mexican celebration of the fifth of May, actually will be celebrated on the fourth of May in Clearwater this year due to scheduling problems at the venue.

But no matter. Sounds from Latin bands like Sentimiento Latino, Casimiro and Sereno will fill the air at Coachman Park along with the scents of Mexican food during this first-of-its-kind 12-hour event Saturday as part of Clearwater's annual Fun 'n Sun Festival.

The day promises to be ripe with authentic Mexican arts and crafts, handcrafted jewelry, Latin dancers, mariachi bands, zesty tacos and fireworks.

The Mexican Council of Tampa Bay, which organized the event along with the city of Clearwater, has arranged for 11 artists to travel from Hidalgo, Mexico, to show and sell items made from silver, palm, wood and shell.

While most Americans think Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of Mexico's Independence Day, it is instead a remembrance of a hard-fought, bloody skirmish.

The Batalla de Puebla, or Battle of Puebla, was fought on May 5, 1862. It is historically significant because the underdog Mexican army was able to defeat the French army which was attempting to conquer the city -- located about 90 miles southeast of Mexico City -- for Napoleon.

Seventy-five percent of the 9,000 people of Mexican decent who live in Clearwater are from Hidalgo, said Robin Gomez, city auditor who is also from the state.

"It (Cinco de Mayo) has become culturally significant here in the U.S.," Gomez said.

And it is a chance for Mexican-born Americans and American-born children of Mexican parents to celebrate their rich heritage.

At the Coachman Park festival, "Everything will be unique to Hidalgo," said Gomez.

"There will be food as if you were in central Mexico," he said.

Three local Mexican restaurants will serve tortas (sandwich-like meal), tacos, beans and tamales, and a panaderia, or bakery, will sell paste, a delicious type of pastry. No alcohol will be served.

There also will be entertainment throughout the day with performances by Latin bands from Mexico and Texas, folkloric dance groups from Hidalgo, and the Ballet Folklorico Maquilxochitl, a children's dance troupe.

"We are trying to build up the community," said Lourdes Mayorga, president of the Mexican Council of Tampa Bay. "We can combine both cultures and everybody's invited. There will be live music, authentic, colorful dresses and sombreros. It will be like a Mexican fiesta."

At a glance

Clearwater's first big Cinco de Mayo celebration featuring live Latin bands, Mexican dancers, food from three local restaurants and fireworks will be from noon to midnight Saturday at Coachman Park. The fiestalike event is part of Clearwater's Fun 'n Sun Festival. Fireworks begin at 7 p.m. At 7:30 p.m., the annual Fun 'n Sun Illuminated Night Parade will make its way through downtown and end at Coachman Park. Alcohol is prohibited. Admission is free.

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