Cinco de Mayo fiesta on KC’s Westside celebrates Latino culture, food, community
Guadalupe Centers annual Cinco de Mayo Fiesta brought crowds of visitors together over the weekend to celebrate and enjoy Latino community and culture in Kansas City.
The free fiesta, held May 2-3 this year, featured a long lineup of entertainment on a main stage and a DJ that created an atmosphere fit for fun. Authentic eats, drinks, art booths and souvenirs were provided by vendors who lined Avenida Cesar E. Chavez and Belleview Avenue in Kansas City’s Westside neighborhood.
Laughter filled the air near colorful inflatables, which housed a variety of children’s activities, including an obstacle course, bounce house, slides and a petting zoo.
Among other groups performing Saturday afternoon was a high school band from Guadalupe Centers. Their bass player, Mayeli Rodriguez Romero, 17, said it was her fourth straight year playing at the event.
“It was incredible; I was excited.,” Rodriguez Romero said. “I was waiting for this moment, and then getting the big stage this year was just the best.”
Rodriguez Romero, a senior, said she was nervous, but that the moment was special.
“We we’re playing for our community, playing with our community,” Rodriguez Romero said. “So it’s very fun.”
Celebrating Cinco de Mayo
Cinco de Mayo celebrates Mexico’s victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.
In Kansas City, Guadalupe Centers’ two-day event featured a free concert by War, a band known for the hit songs, “Spill the Wine,” “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” and “Low Rider.”
Helping register volunteers for the event Saturday was Aracely Bonilla, 42, Guadalupe Centers’ community engagement and volunteer manager.
Bonilla said Guadalupe Centers has been celebrating Cinco de Mayo in some form or fashion since the organization’s inception. Organizers anticipated a good turnout this year, she said.
“It’s nice to get the whole community to come together to participate,” Bonilla said. “We have a lot of schools joining us with students who wanted to volunteer.”
Setting up an arrangement of fresh-made Mexican drinks on Saturday morning was Andrea Flores, 24. Her business, Costa Chica Drinks and More, served up Horchata, Piña Colada, Strawberry Cream and other fresh fruit beverages in the courtyard of Guadalupe Centers.
Costa Chica, a region of Mexico where Flores hails from, can be translated to, “girl from the coast.”
“I like coming here to these events and embracing our culture and the surroundings,” Flores said. “This is ... our culture, you know, all the people coming here, all the family and all the kids. I love when they try drinks, and even like adults, where they’re like, ‘oh my god, this is really good.’”
“I enjoy making good drinks,” Flores said.
Also celebrated on Saturday was the 5 de Mayo Mexican Culture Pride Day in Kansas City, Kansas. It featured Charro Dancing Horses, food, arts and other live entertainment.
Previous reporting by Dan Kelly contributed.
