Flags, mariachi, banda groups, and decorated cars filled East Palo Alto streets on Sunday morning as residents celebrated Cinco de Mayo, a holiday that celebrates Mexico’s victory over France and is now used to celebrate Mexican culture. The event, organized by Comite Latino, brought together community members, friends, and families for the annual parade and festival.
The event began with a parade that featured cars playing different genres of Hispanic music, including reggaeton, bachata, and other latin pop, as they drove through the streets. Bandas, including Banda Exclusiva de San José, Los Grandes de Tijuana, and Los Bravos de California, also added to the atmosphere. Local programs like the EPA Center, KIPP Esperanza Schools, and Youth United for Community Action (YUCA) followed behind.
Many people carried flags from their ancestral home countries, including Mexico, Uruguay, Puerto Rico, Colombia, and Ecuador, to name a few. Local performers showcased a dance known as “Dance of the Devils,” a traditional southern Mexican dance.
To maintain a secure atmosphere, police temporarily blocked off nearby streets so the parade could proceed safely, while the community lined the sidewalks to watch and celebrate together.
“I was a part of the parade, and that was amazing and super fun,” Amrita Deo, an attendee from Foundation for a College Education, a nonprofit organization that supports student education, said. “When you live in such a culturally diverse and rich community, it’s important that cultures are represented and that they’re able to celebrate their roots and where they come from.”
Once the parade ended, the event transitioned into a festival with food stands, live performances, and community booths.
Yaretzi, a junior at East Palo Alto Academy, emphasized the importance of the festival. “I think it’s important for these events to happen here because a lot of people in this community are from Mexico or other Hispanic countries,” she said. “It’s important for everybody to be aware about what kind of people there are, and how we can celebrate them being here with us.”
The festival included a banda and traditional dancers. Music played throughout the area as people explored booths and enjoyed food from stands.
The event also included performances of both the Mexican national anthem and the Star-Spangled Banner. To pay respect to both countries, individuals used the traditional Mexican Anthem salute, placing their right hand across their chest with the palm facing downward. Later, when the U.S. national anthem began, individuals switched to placing their hands over their hearts, following U.S. tradition.
Various community programs, including Monterra Credit Union, Canopy, and local schools, set up tables, giving the community a chance to learn about the resources available to them.
For many, this Cinco de Mayo event was a chance to connect and embrace their heritage. It also served as a tribute to the diversity and unity within their community.
