Cinco de Mayo Celebration in Nebraska
ESU 13, Community Connections Mentoring Program and Proteus, Inc. will be hosting the annual Cinco de Mayo celebration in North Platte, Nebraska.
North Platte Nebraska Newspaper reported:
Cinco de Mayo fair is Saturday
By Diane Wetzel
dwetzel@nptelegraph.com| Posted: Sunday, April 29, 2012 12:00 am
On May 5, 1862, the Mexican army beat the French at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-American War. Although it wasn’t considered a major success in the war against the French, it represented a symbolic victory for the Mexican government. In the years since, May 5 , or Cinco de Mayo has become a day to celebrate Mexican heritage and culture .
The second annual Cinco de Mayo Multicultural Fair is Saturday, May 5, at the North Platte High School. According to Mona Tarin, the event is a way to celebrate diveristy in the area.
As a migrant education recruiter for ESU 13, Tarin works with children of migrant workers in the Nebraska Panhandle.
“People have the idea that we don’t have migrant workers here, ” Tarin said. “But we do. They work in feedlots, at vineyards and in agriculture.”
The Cinco de Mayo celebration in North Platte was established last year as a recruitment tool for ESU, as a way to let migrant families know about educational services available.
“As more and more people expressed an interest, we thought why not make it a community event,” Tarin said. “We have established a multicultural committee and hope to have events throughout the year.”
ESU 13 has joined with Community Connections Mentoring Program and Proteus, Inc. to host the event. Corporate sponsors include NebrakaLand National Bank and Great Western Bank.
The festivities will begin at 10am and include fun and educational activities. Juan Guzman, director of multicultural affairs at the University of Nebraska at Kearney will be the featured speaker at 1pm.
“Cinco de Mayo will have a bit of everything, ” Tarin said. “There will be informational booths and fun activities for the kids.”
Scheduled events include performances by the McPherson County Spanish Music Department at 10:30am, a step and stroll demonstration by Lanbda Theta Nu Sorority at UNK, and a Mexican Folkloric dance by the Greeley, Colorado dance troupe, the Rodarte Dancers.
Admission if free. Vendors will be on hand with authentic Mexican food, local Mexican artists, and crafts.
The celebration was a great success and we were proud to have participated!
The KNOP TV news segment from the North Platte Cinco de Mayo festival:
by Flying Hippo