Cinco de Mayo festival at Newport National Guard Armory on Saturday will feature live music, dance and food

Newport will celebrate Mexican and Hispanic culture with food, music and family activities at the second annual Cinco de Mayo Fiesta at the National Guard Armory this Saturday, May 2.

Presented by the Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce, the free community celebration follows the annual Loyalty Days Parade and offers an afternoon gathering for families and friends.

The event features live entertainment, with traditional music and dance performances, along with authentic cuisine from local food vendors La Juquilita Mexican Grocery and El Faro Taqueria. A beverage garden will offer regional selections of beer and wine as well as margaritas for guests aged 21 and older.

The fiesta will also showcase handmade crafts and works by local artists, including the Mayan textiles of traditional Guatemalan weaver Abelina Pablo Perez, while younger visitors can enjoy a dedicated Kids Zone.

“We’ll have cotton candy and popcorn, glitter tattoos, kite making, coloring and all that kind of stuff,” said event Director Maggie Conrad. “The armory will also have trucks there that the kids can climb on. It’s truly a family event.”

Music will be performed by Mariachi Monumental from Salem and the 234th Army Band.

“The Army Band was here last year and I was shocked by how good they were,” Conrad said. “They were wonderful — people didn’t want them to get off the stage.”

Cinco de Mayo marks the Mexican army’s victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. Mexico had already won its independence from Spain at the time, but was deeply in debt to investors in Western European countries, leading France to invade.

The victory is symbolic in Mexico: It represents the country’s ability to resist a foreign invasion. In the U.S., Cinco de Mayo is celebrated in recognition of Mexican heritage and culture.

The highlight of the event is Ballet Folklorico Oregon Coast, presenting the traditional dances and lively outfits that are making it a local favorite.

​​“Our goal is to celebrate our culture and showcase dances from different regions in Mexico and Latin America,” said founder Miguel Madrazo Martinez. “I started the group to help the Hispanic community to feel more a part of the greater Newport community. We love to see other cultures in the community share their cultures, too.”

The group welcomes anyone interested in being involved with the performances and work to make them happen.

“Anybody that would like to be part of the group is welcome to join,” Martinez said. “They don’t have to be Hispanic.”

The event is also a way for the community to support people who need extra support amid the deportations and arrests of residents across the country.

“We wanted to make sure this went on this year,” Conrad said, “especially because we don’t want people to think that we are buying into the whole ICE thing.”

“We want our Latino community to feel appreciated as a part of the greater Newport community,” Chamber Executive Director Wayne Patterson added. “They make up 30 percent of the population of Newport and we want to continue to create more events for them.”

Martinez said there was some talk about skipping the event this year.

“We thought for a moment about not doing it because of what’s going on,” he said. “But we have decided to go on and share our culture and our dances. We have been super resilient with what has been happening in our community, and we have also felt extremely supported through this.”

Support for the nonprofit group comes in many forms, including grants and donations.

“Any funds we get go back into our shoes and clothing,” Martinez said. “Newport Middle School has been letting us practice there, too, which we really appreciate. We are going to give a performance for the students and their families there soon.”

With more than 1,000 in attendance last year, the Newport Chamber looks forward to the continued growth of the event.

“The Cinco de Mayo Fiesta is a cornerstone of our spring calendar, and we are thrilled to have TLC Federal Credit Union and the Embarcadero on board to help us bring this vision to life,” Conrad said. “Following the tradition of the Loyalty Days Parade, we invite everyone to join us at the armory to celebrate the rich cultural diversity that makes Newport such a unique place to live and work.”

Saturday’s fiesta will run from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Newport National Guard Armory, located at 541 S.W. Coast Highway in Newport. For more information, go to newportchamber.org or call 541-265-8801.

For more arts and entertainment news, go to Oregon Coast TODAY.