efore the sun moves high into the sky, the Cinco de Mayo parade fills Denton streets with vibrant color. The shades of the Mexican flag—red, green, and white—swirl through the streets, as the parade snakes past the courthouse and the library to reach the Civic Center. Participants walk along in traditional dress, some dressed as Mexican cowboys (charros), leading horses.

Lowriders roll by, festooned with tissue-paper flowers and streamers, honking their horns. Children swirl and clap, eager for the music and the dancing to begin. At the Civic Center, the mayor makes a proclamation, officially launching Cinco de Mayo (May 5), Denton’s fiesta to commemorate the victory of the Mexicans over the French army at the Battle of Puebla in 1862.

Celebrating Culture
Every year, more than 12,000 people gather in Denton for the daylong celebration of Mexican culture, including authentic food, dancing, pageantry, piñatas, and soccer. Families arrive intending to spend the day, says Janie McLeod, community events coordinator for the City of Denton. This year, Denton’s 21st event, will be celebrated Saturday, May 5.

“It’s an opportunity for the youth to get together and enjoy the music and the dancing,” McLeod says. “The Hispanic family is such a family-oriented culture. When they celebrate it’s the entire family—grandmothers, grandfathers, nieces, and nephews. You have seniors and little babies. There is something for everyone at Cinco de Mayo.”

Cinco de Mayo has become an increasingly popular celebration in the United States, commemorating the success of Mexican General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin in defeating the French invasion of Puebla, Mexico. Even though the French army was much larger and better armed, Zaragoza’s militia thwarted the invasion.

Crowning La Reina
Denton’s Cinco de Mayo festivities attract diverse attendees from throughout the greater Dallas/Fort Worth area. Gricelda Samano, who organizes the day’s pageant and crowns La Reina (the queen) of Cinco de Mayo, says the celebration seems to grow bigger each year, fueled by the enthusiasm of Hispanic residents. “We just want to show off our culture,” she says. “We want to share with everybody else our food and our traditions.”

For the pageant, the teenage participants spend the day competing in a series of contests, including dance and interview, leading up to the evening’s final selection. Each participant chooses a state in Mexico to represent, Samano says. “They usually wear that [state’s] traditional dress,” she says. “For a lot of them, their mothers know how to sew and will make them costumes. Some of them will order their costumes from Mexico.”

The winner is awarded a $4,000 scholarship to the University of North Texas, a coveted prize, Samano says. After La Reina is crowned, a dance follows, with the pageant participants wearing evening gowns.

Something for Everyone
Competition is not limited to the pageantry stage. Soccer enthusiasts kick up some competitive sport to win a trophy. The parade features several judging categories, including best youth entry, most spirited, and most culturally diverse.

Music and dance reverberate throughout the festival, ranging from the more modern cumbia and norteña rhythms to the traditional mariachi bands. Two stages feature live music, while teenagers and children show off their moves, sometimes linking hands and dancing in circles.

The youngest participants can enjoy a children’s activity area, including bounce houses, face painting, and balloon artists. They also can try their hand at some arts and crafts or vent a little exuberant energy on one of the colorful, suspended piñatas.

Set up some lawn chairs, invite your friends, and feel free to bring along some snacks, McLeod says, although she jokes, “You won’t want to.” The mouthwatering smells from the food booths are everywhere. For a meal, the choices include tacos and tamales, along with gorditas—thick, deep-fried tortillas usually stuffed with meat. Dessert options include churros, fruit cocktail, and buñuelos, which are tortillas served tostada-style with cinnamon and sugar on top. To wash it all down, try some fresh fruit juices and other Latino drinks, including horchata.

Lend a Hand
For more information on how to get involved, please call (940) 349-8733.