Cinco de Mayo Fiesta returns to in-person events this Saturday in Sioux Falls

Symmone Gauer, Sioux Falls Argus Leader
·3 min read

After a two-year hiatus of in-person events, the Cinco de Mayo Fiesta returns to Sioux Falls this Saturday. It starts at 11 a.m. and will go until 7 p.m. at Fal

The Cinco de Mayo Fiesta started 14 years ago as a fundraiser to support Caminando Juntos, a ministry of the Aberdeen Presentation Sisters. The ministry works to meet the needs of the local Latino community.

"[The fiesta's] purpose is to bring together community and celebrate various Latino cultures among us," said April Ross, the director and education coordinator for Caminando Juntos.

Before the pandemic, the fiesta would see on average 8,000 visitors throughout the day, with many of them coming from different parts of the Midwest — not just Sioux Falls.

"We're hoping for a bigger turnout than ever," Ross said. "After the pandemic, people are excited to come back together."

More: Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican holiday. So why does the United States celebrate it more?

Emiliano Lira performs Mexica Yolotl, traditional Aztec dance, during Cinco de Mayo Fiesta at Falls Park in Sioux Falls, S.D., Saturday, May 11, 2013. (Emily Spartz/ Argus Leader)
Emiliano Lira performs Mexica Yolotl, traditional Aztec dance, during Cinco de Mayo Fiesta at Falls Park in Sioux Falls, S.D., Saturday, May 11, 2013. (Emily Spartz/ Argus Leader)

The day's festivities will include live music and dances, a chihuahua fashion show, a proclamation from the mayor and a kids' zone with piñatas, inflatables, and characters from Disney's "Encanto."

There will be 13 food vendors from the area, most of them serving traditional Hispanic food, and all of the day's events are free to attend.

Earlier in the day at 8 a.m., Avera--the sponsor of the Fiesta's entertainment--is hosting its annual Race Against Cancer. Race participants who come to the Fiesta after will have a chance to win prizes.

There are 11 committee members and over 300 volunteers who help make sure the Cinco de Mayo Fiesta runs smoothly.

"And we couldn't do it without any of them," Ross said.

More: Cinco De Mayo: How did the holiday become more popular in the United States than Mexico?

What is Cinco de Mayo?

Contrary to popular belief, Cinco de Mayo doesn’t commemorate Mexico’s Independence Day, according to USAToday.

May 5 marks the Mexican army’s victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War in 1862. Mexico’s Independence Day is celebrated on September 16. French Emperor Napoleon III wanted to claim Mexican territory for himself and sent his troops to force Mexico's President Benito Juárez and the government out of Veracruz.

Days later Juárez declared May 5 a national holiday.

A 2018 survey by NationalToday.com showed only 10% of Americans knew the true reason behind the holiday, yet it has turned into a day where people can get cheap margaritas and wear sombreros.

Cinco de Mayo Fiesta schedule of events

  • 8 a.m. - Annual Avera Race Against Cancer

  • 11 a.m. - Fiesta opens and raffle tickets go on sale

  • 11:30 a.m. - Singing: Sonia Sotomayor Elementary

  • Noon - Proclamation from mayor

  • 12:30 p.m. - Dancers: Grupofolklorico El Son de mi Tierra

  • 1:15 p.m. - Band: Escuadron Musical

  • 3:30 p.m. - Chihuahua fashion show

  • 4:45 p.m. - Band: Esencia Latina

  • 6:45 p.m. - Raffle winners announced

Schedule of kid's zone events

  • 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. - Piñatas, first session

  • 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. - Giant Connect Four game

  • 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. - Inflatables

  • 12:30 - 4:30 p.m. - Balloon twisting

  • 1 - 3 p.m. - Kite flying

  • 1 - 4 p.m. - "Encanto" Characters

  • 3 - 6 p.m. - Piñatas, second session

USATODAY contributed to this report

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Sioux Falls' Cinco de Mayo Fiesta returns to live events May 7