Celina Record > News
Cinco de Mayo brings music, color to the square
El Puente de Celina begins tradition of giving scholarships
By Penny Rathbun
prathbun@starlocalnews.com
For half a day on May 5 the Celina downtown square shed its quiet image, put on bright skirts and hats and danced for the third annual Cinco de Mayo celebration.
About 55 food and craft vendors around the square plied their trade from 2 p.m. till dark. Children enjoyed batting at pinatas throughout the afternoon while their parents enjoyed demonstrations of Mexican folk dances and several contests, new to the festival this year.
Celina resident Sandy Carter was very pleased with the event. She is one of the main organizers of the festival and helped to found El Puente de Celina. She also won the musical chairs contest.
“Considering the fact that we did all the planning in six weeks and it was that successful, I can't even imagine what it's going to be when we're able to start on it sooner,” Carter said.
“What made it successful is the community coming together to do it,” she said. “All of us working together, cross-promoting each others' events, the Chamber helping us, the city being so on board.”
Vincent Ramos, El Puente de Celina board member, acted as master of ceremonies. He kept events rolling along at a smooth pace, explaining everything in both Spanish and English.
El Puente de Celina is the organization formed to bridge the Hispanic and main stream cultures in Celina and also to oversee the Cinco de Mayo celebration.
Also, the organization's focus is to use proceeds from the event to award scholarships to Celina students.
El Puente de Celina scholarship committee members presented three scholarships of $1,500 each. Pedro Rojas, Natali Estrada and Edgar Fraire were the scholarship recipients.
El Puente board members hope to increase the amount of scholarships given every year from the proceeds of Cinco de Mayo.
Two new contests this year proved to be popular attractions. The jalapeno eating contest was a lively competition. Ubaldo Rebollar of Gunter won the pepper eating contest. He consumed 15 jalapenos in two minutes.
The best grito contest was an ear-splitting event. Zulma Galvan of Plano won that contest with the best Mexican yell.
The dancing was also a major part of the festival. El Puente de Celina president Dago Rodriguez organized and lead the Mexican folk dances.
Celina City Manager Mike Foreman said he liked the fact that the vendors he talked to during Cinco de Mayo wanted to come back to other Celina events such as the Splash and Blast scheduled for June 30.
“The entire community came together for this,” he said. “Bringing the scholarships in is a great aspect of this event.”
His favorite aspect of the day was the food vendors.
“I loved the food and I had plenty to eat,” he said.
“This shows we can work together and it sets the road map for working together in the future,” Foreman added.
By Penny Rathbun
prathbun@starlocalnews.com
For half a day on May 5 the Celina downtown square shed its quiet image, put on bright skirts and hats and danced for the third annual Cinco de Mayo celebration.
About 55 food and craft vendors around the square plied their trade from 2 p.m. till dark. Children enjoyed batting at pinatas throughout the afternoon while their parents enjoyed demonstrations of Mexican folk dances and several contests, new to the festival this year.
Celina resident Sandy Carter was very pleased with the event. She is one of the main organizers of the festival and helped to found El Puente de Celina. She also won the musical chairs contest.
“Considering the fact that we did all the planning in six weeks and it was that successful, I can't even imagine what it's going to be when we're able to start on it sooner,” Carter said.
“What made it successful is the community coming together to do it,” she said. “All of us working together, cross-promoting each others' events, the Chamber helping us, the city being so on board.”
Vincent Ramos, El Puente de Celina board member, acted as master of ceremonies. He kept events rolling along at a smooth pace, explaining everything in both Spanish and English.
El Puente de Celina is the organization formed to bridge the Hispanic and main stream cultures in Celina and also to oversee the Cinco de Mayo celebration.
Also, the organization's focus is to use proceeds from the event to award scholarships to Celina students.
El Puente de Celina scholarship committee members presented three scholarships of $1,500 each. Pedro Rojas, Natali Estrada and Edgar Fraire were the scholarship recipients.
El Puente board members hope to increase the amount of scholarships given every year from the proceeds of Cinco de Mayo.
Two new contests this year proved to be popular attractions. The jalapeno eating contest was a lively competition. Ubaldo Rebollar of Gunter won the pepper eating contest. He consumed 15 jalapenos in two minutes.
The best grito contest was an ear-splitting event. Zulma Galvan of Plano won that contest with the best Mexican yell.
The dancing was also a major part of the festival. El Puente de Celina president Dago Rodriguez organized and lead the Mexican folk dances.
Celina City Manager Mike Foreman said he liked the fact that the vendors he talked to during Cinco de Mayo wanted to come back to other Celina events such as the Splash and Blast scheduled for June 30.
“The entire community came together for this,” he said. “Bringing the scholarships in is a great aspect of this event.”
His favorite aspect of the day was the food vendors.
“I loved the food and I had plenty to eat,” he said.
“This shows we can work together and it sets the road map for working together in the future,” Foreman added.
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