Columbia County Parks, Recreations and Events celebrated Hispanic culture with its annual Cinco Saturday at Evans Towne Center Park.
Cinco de Mayo, translated as May 5, specifically celebrates Mexican heritage and culture. It also commemorates Mexico’s 1862 victory against the French at the Battle of Puebla, according to Hubert van Tuyll, an Augusta University military historian.
After the Mexican Civil War, the Mexican government couldn’t pay its debts to other countries, including France, van Tuyll said. France invaded Mexico, and the Mexican victory at Puebla was a huge morale boost for the beleaguered Mexican troops.
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- A group of ladies perform traditional Hispanic dances.
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- Bright colored skirts swirl around as the ladies perform their dances.
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- One of the Hispanic inspired food vendors was The Crazy Empanada that featured four different varieties.
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- Ladies posed for pictures for event goers in traditional Hispanic costumes.
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- The mariachi band played a combo of traditional Hispanic music and modern music.
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- A mechanical bull gave children and adults the opportunity to go bull-riding.
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- A mariachi band performed for guests while they enjoyed the lawn games and outdoor activities.
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- Performers hold the flags of Hispanic countries during their dance.
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- Durty Gurl passed along samples of their Transfusion cocktail.
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- Event goers enjoyed shaded areas in the brightly colored decorations to honor the Hispanic culture.
Columbia county’s celebration featured a mariachi band and a special performance of traditional dancing. A mechanical bull, food vendors and lawn-games were present too.
RecTeq Grills, a well-known Columbia County grill manufacturing company and Durty Gurl cocktail mixtures sponsored this year’s celebration along with Doctor’s Hospital.
Durty Gurl provided samples of its mixed drink called the Transfusion (a mix of grape juice, ginger ale and Second City vodka), and food vendors included local restaurants such as The Crazy Empanada.
Americans have celebrated Cinco de Mayo since 1863 as a sign of anti-French solidarity with their southern neighbors – and are more likely to do so than people living in Mexico. However, a 2019 poll sponsored by Mexico’s avocado growers shows only 22 percent of Americans know what they’re celebrating on May 5.
Haley Knight is a contributor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at haley.knight@TheAugustaPress.com.
