Cinco de Mayo is celebrated by Mexicans everywhere and the festival planned by Clearwater's Mexican community is expected to attract thousands of celebrants.
By PETER L. SCHWEITZER
Published April 28, 2004
CLEARWATER - Cinco de Mayo is not the Mexican equivalent of our Fourth of July. It isn't even Mexican Independence Day.
However, it is an important day for Americans and Mexicans who celebrate it with great gusto. And local Mexican immigrants say they are ready to demonstrate pride in their heritage at Clearwater's celebration Saturday at Coachman Park.
"I've lived in Clearwater for 18 years and am proud to be here," said Odelon Mesquite, vice president of the Mexican Council of Tampa Bay. "I'm also proud to be Mexican."
Mesquite is expecting more than the 8,000 people who attended the event last year.
"We've got lots of activities for the Mexican community as well as the entire Clearwater community," Mesquite said, speaking in Spanish.
The holiday has its roots on a battlefield more than 140 years ago. On May 5, 1862, Napoleon III's French army of some 7,000 was defeated in Puebla by a much smaller force of Mexican troops. The United States, embroiled in a civil war, could ill afford to fight the French. The victory of Cinco de Mayo has been a cornerstone of Mexican-American relations ever since.
Luz Elena Bueno of the Consul de Mexico in Orlando plans to attend this year's event as well. "I think it's magnificent," he said. "We're proud of our heritage and this is a way to keep our traditions as well as share them with everyone else."
For Robin Gomez, Clearwater city auditor and co-coordinator of this year's event, it's an opportunity to showcase the community's cultural richness.
"It's a great event that really shows how diverse a city we are," he said. "We're expecting a lot of people and it's going to be a fun event for the entire community."
Saturday's celebration will feature two Mexican folkloric dance groups, Otomangue and Flor de Orquidia from Hidalgo, Mexico. Otomangue is a children's dance group and Flor de Orquidia features adult dancers.
In addition to the folkloric dancers, Cinco de Mayo will offer face painting, Mexican food, and musical groups from Mexico and Clearwater.
The bands include Grupo Maravilla from Puebla Mexico, Los Nhauhltl from Hidalgo, Mexico, and Sentimiento Latino and Mi Nueva Ilusion both from Clearwater.
A Mexican actor featured on Spanish television programs on Telemundo, Jose Angel Llama, also is scheduled to attend. Local vendors will prepare and serve authentic Mexican dishes throughout the celebration.
Event sponsors include the St. Petersburg Times and the city of Clearwater. The third annual event is part of the city's Fun 'n Sun Festival, one of 40 events sponsored by the city.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Cinco de Mayo festival
WHEN: 2 to 10 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Coachman Park, Clearwater
DETAILS: The free event includes dancing, traditional food and musical performance.
