Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Cinco de Mayo represents the Mexican victory over the French on May 5, 1862.
Saturday, Warsaw will celebrate the day with its own Cinco de Mayo festival at Central Park. Warsaw began holding its own festival in 1996.
This year's festival kicks off with a church service, in Spanish, at noon.
Opening ceremony and crowning of the queen will be from 1 to 1:30 p.m.
The first band, Groupo Vizion, plays from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Ballet Folklorico will perform from 3 to 4:30 p.m.
"It's going to be a big ballet," said Warsaw Parks Activity Director Andy McCleary. "About 40 dancers (will be) involved."
The group has appeared at the festival four consecutive years, he said, and are from East Chicago. He said they are one of the major highlights of the day and will be wearing bright, authentic ethnic apparel.
Children's games will be held from 4:30 to 6 p.m. and will include pi-atas, face painting, a coloring contest with prizes, moonwalks and arts and crafts.
At 6, Grupo Escorpion will play until 7:30 p.m.
The festival concludes with Banda Lobo playing from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
"(Banda Lobo) is a nationally recognized group from Texas," said McCleary.
During the festival, there will be "plenty of ethnic food," said McCleary, such as tacos, enchiladas, burritos and others as well as ribs and chicken.
Various local organizations also will be on hand to pass out information in Spanish to "connect with the Hispanic community," said McCleary.
Because of the growing Hispanic population - approximately 5 percent of Kosciusko County's population - McCleary said the festival "is a chance to recognize our Hispanic community."
Attendance at previous festivals was more than 2,000. "We're expecting even more this year," said McCleary.
Sponsors of the festival include Warsaw Parks Department, Maple Leaf Farms and R.R. Donnelley & Sons Inc.
McCleary said the festival is free and open to the public.
