The Cinco de Mayo Cultural Festival, which has long been one of Downtown Yakima’s most popular signature events, consistently drawing 20,000 or more visitors over the last several years, will celebrate a significant milestone during its 2016, two-day run. The free, family-friendly festival organized by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce marks its 15th anniversary in 2016, making it one of Downtown Yakima’s longest running signature events as well.
The 2016 Cinco de Mayo Cultural Festival will begin welcoming visitors at 9:00 am on Saturday, May 7th. The event will run until 9:00 pm on May 7th. The festival grounds will be open on Sunday, May 8th from 9:00 am until 7:15 pm.
Booths featuring delicious food, fun kids’ activities, one-of-a-kind handmade crafts, and more will fill the festival grounds, which will include Yakima Avenue between 1st Street and 3rd Street, 2nd Street from about a half block north of Yakima Avenue to about a half block south of Yakima Avenue, and 3rd Street between Chestnut and Yakima Avenue.
The festival’s main stage will feature a wide variety of activities and performances including dancers, musicians, and various elements of the 2016 Ms. Cinco de Mayo Pageant. The culmination of the pageant will be the crowning of the 2016 Ms. Cinco de Mayo, which will take place on the main stage at 1:30 pm on Sunday. The pageant will award $5,000 in post-secondary education scholarships this year.
Street soccer and street basketball tournaments will be taking place throughout the festival. A parade featuring dancing horses and “charros” (traditional Mexican horsemen) will make its way down Yakima Avenue from 5th Avenue to the festival grounds beginning at 1:30 pm on Sunday, May 8th. Sunday’s activities will also include the 2016 Mother’s Day Cinco de Mayo Custom Car Show. The show, which is free to attend, will showcase lowrider cars and bikes, classics, imports, motorcycles, trucks, hot rods, and more, will take place in the parking lot north of Chestnut Avenue between 2nd Street and 3rd Street as well as on 2nd Street and 3rd Street between Chestnut and Yakima Avenue.
To see a complete schedule for the 2016 Cinco de Mayo Cultural Festival taking place in Downtown Yakima on May 7th and 8th, visit the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce website at http://www.yakimahispanicchamber.com/cinco-de-mayo.html.