Cinco de Mayo, a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride, resonates deeply in communities across the United States. Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican army's victory over the French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5,1862. While often mistaken for Mexico's Independence Day, Cinco de Mayo holds immense cultural significance. In Celina, Texas, this vibrant festival takes on a unique flavor, blending traditional Mexican customs with the warmth of Texan hospitality.
The first Cinco de Mayo celebration in Celina was held in 2008. Celina local, Dago Rodriguez, owner of Jimbo’s Pizza, had a dream to unite the community by sharing his own Mexican culture. He wanted to teach the folkloric Mexican dances to children in the community. Cinco de Mayo Celina is a community event, created for people. Dago’s dream was to leave a legacy by sharing customs from his culture and to support local students with scholarships.
Dago was greatly impacted by his community. He states, “When I was a kid and I was without parents, the teachers became my mentors and helped me with my education. I was able to go to college and become a teacher.” This experience inspired him to create the scholarship program to help others in the community that can’t afford to continue education. El Puente de Celina is a non profit organization, and all proceeds from the event go towards scholarships for Celina ISD. The event is free but the organization works hard with volunteers and in collaboration with the city of Celina to save on the expenses and give more towards scholarships.
Cinco de Mayo Celina is based on volunteers and sponsors; it’s a community event created by El Puente de Celina with the help of the volunteers and sponsors that are generous by giving towards scholarships. The event starts with a parade at 2pm where city officials are invited to participate, and the dancers are presented. Every year, the committee tries to bring new dances from different regions in Mexico and every region has its own special costumes. This year, folkloric dances from Jalisco and Sinaloa will be featured. In addition to vendors, bands, dancers, and a DJ, the Lucha Libre show will be back this year!
In Celina, Texas, the Cinco de Mayo celebration is more than just a commemoration of a historical event; it's a celebration of identity, heritage, and community spirit. This is an event done with the support of the community for the community, and El Puente de Celina would like to invite everyone to come together and make it a great one.
Cinco de Mayo Celina
May 4, 2024, starting at 2PM, Downtown Celina & The Square
