Members of the Cal Poly Humboldt Danza Azteca Yolteotl student club gave a group performance. Credit: Photo by Mark Larson
The third consecutive year of the Cinco de Mayo cultural celebration at the Old Town Gazebo in Eureka on Saturday, May 2, offered the large crowd in attendance an opportunity to experience Mexican culture and heritage, eat traditional Mexican food, and enjoy Latine dance and music. Family-friendly fun for children included clowns/payasitos, a bounce house, games and other activities.
Organizer Brenda Pérez, executive director of Centro del Pueblo, said the event honors the history, resilience and joy of Indigenous migrant Latine communities and described the event “as a living celebration of our culture.”
Beginning at noon, the roster of performers included DJ Pressure, Mariachi Mar Pacífico, the Ballet Walker Folklorico of Eureka; Alice Birney Folklorico, Eureka High School Folklorico, Rocio Samba Dance, Salsa At Six Dance, Danza Azteca Yolteotl, DJ Zero One and Riss, Selma and Sol Dance. In addition to the entertainment and a cultural marketplace of art and clothing, food vendors offered attendees a variety of traditional dishes prepared by locals. Community organizations also were on-site to provide resources and information for families.
Cinco de Mayo’s origins go back to May 27, 1862, when residents of the Californian town of Columbia finally received the news of the Mexican army defeating the invading French army at the Battle of Puebla on May 5. One year later on May 5, 1863, Mexican Americans in California towns and cities began celebrating Cinco de Mayo.
See the photos below for highlights of the celebration in Eureka.
Selma (left), Sol del Valle and Marissa Marquez teamed up for the next Latine music and dance set at Cinco de Mayo in Eureka on Saturday. Credit: Photo by Mark Larson
Members of the Salsa at Six team followed with a longer Latine music and dance set at Cinco de Mayo in Eureka on Saturday. Credit: Photo by Mark Larson
An impromtu dance-lesson party led by Salsa at Six dancers broke out following their last Latine music set. Credit: Photo by Mark Larson
Members of the Cal Poly Humboldt Danza Azteca Yolteotl student club followed with a performance of Aztec dancing at Cinco de Mayo in Eureka on Saturday. Credit: Photo by Mark Larson
Members of the Cal Poly Humboldt Danza Azteca Yolteotl student club followed with a performance of Indigenous dancing. Credit: Photo by Mark Larson
Members of the Cal Poly Humboldt Danza Azteca Yolteotl student club followed with a performance of Indigenous dancing. Credit: Photo by Mark Larson
Members of the Salsa at Six team followed with a longer Latine music set with adult performers. Credit: Photo by Mark Larson
Members of the Salsa at Six team followed with a longer Latine music set with adult performers. Credit: Photo by Mark Larson
Young children from the Ballet Walker Folklorico and the Alice Birney Folklorico performed traditional dances. Credit: Photo by Mark Larson
Young children from the Ballet Walker Folklorico and the Alice Birney Folklorico performed traditional dances. Credit: Photo by Mark Larson
Young children from the Ballet Walker Folclorico and the Alice Birney Folklorico performed traditional dances at Cinco de Mayo in Eureka on Saturday. These dancers were waiting to begin their Danza de los viejitos (dance of the little old men), a traditional folk dance in Michoacán, Mexico. Credit: Photo by Mark Larson
Young children from the Ballet Walker Folklorico and the Alice Birney Folklorico performed traditional dances. These dancers performed Danza de los Viejitos (dance of the little old men), a traditional folk dance in Michoacán, Mexico. Credit: Photo by Mark Larson
Dancers from Eureka High School Folclorico followed the young children with more traditional dance performances. Credit: Photo by Mark Larson
Dancers from Eureka High School Folklorico followed the young children with more traditional dance performances. Credit: Photo by Mark Larson
Dancers from Eureka High School Folklorico followed the young children with more traditional dance performances. Credit: Photo by Mark Larson
The Rocio Samba Dance team led off the first Latine music set with adult performers. Credit: Photo by Mark Larson
These clowns/payasitos were kept busy creating their balloon creations for children next to the bounce house. Credit: Photo by Mark Larson
Ana arranged her “Class of 2026” graduation stoles for sale at the cultural marketplace of art and clothing. Credit: Photo by Mark Larson
Young children from the Ballet Walker Folklorico and the Alice Birney Folklorico performed traditional dances. Credit: Photo by Mark Larson
Young children from the Ballet Walker Folklorico and the Alice Birney Folklorico performed traditional dances by the gazebo. Credit: Photo by Mark Larson
Young children from the Ballet Walker Folklorico and the Alice Birney Folklorico performed traditional dances. Credit: Photo by Mark Larson
Hula hoops were popular for children at the family-friendly Cinco de Mayo event in Eureka on Saturday, along with clowns/payasitos, a bounce house, games and other activities. Credit: Photo by Mark Larson
Centro de Pueblo offered free food with tortillas handmade on the spot by Francisca and Adam, as well as selling homemade flan, choco flan and pan de elote desserts. Credit: Photo by Mark Larson
Vendors at a cultural marketplace offered a wide mix of art and clothing at the Cinco de Mayo event in Eureka on Saturday. Credit: Photo by Mark Larson
Sammy Ramirez and Andrea Rivas were staffing the Eureka High School fundraiser table at Cinco de Mayo in Eureka on Saturday. Credit: Photo by Mark Larson
