How to Make Cinco Sizzle

By Ellen Ruark

Up to 12,000 people flock to this annual event in Denton’s Civic Center Park/Civic Center, which starts with a parade downtown and usually runs into the early evening. In Mexico, Cinco de Mayo is considered more of a regional celebration than a national holiday, but in the United States it has evolved into a uniquely American way to salute the best of Hispanic culture.

Denton’s festival is now entering its third decade, and its reputation for authenticity and family friendliness attracts visitors from across North Texas. Families love the wide variety of activities, and the cost—it’s free—can’t be beat. On the main amphitheater stage, entertainment runs day and night and includes everything from mariachi music to dance performances to the La Reina Pageant where teenage girls compete to be named Queen of Cinco de Mayo. In the Civic Center, kids have their very own entertainment area, with bounce houses, face painting, craft workshops, and piñata chases all afternoon. Their delighted screams echo throughout the park where nearly 70 vendors sell food, crafts, and jewelry in a festive atmosphere decorated with strings of lights and brightly colored streamers, paper flowers, banners, and flags. For Gricelda Samano, who moved from Guadalajara 20 years ago and now runs the La Reina Pageant, the atmosphere feels familiar and safe. “For those of us who come from Mexico, we feel that we’re at home,” she says. “On that day, the foods sold are typical from our country, and everything is so colorful. We don’t even think we’re in another country.”

Whether you’re a native or just a lover of Mexican food (aren’t we all?), the food is irresistible. Mouthwatering tacos, enchilada plates, tamales, tostados, turkey legs, and roasted corn are all washed down with delicious aguas frescas. These chilled Mexican fruit drinks come in various flavors, including coconut and watermelon, and are made by infusing fruit, sugar, water, and occasionally lime for a divinely refreshing drink. Watch out—it’s easy to become addicted. And unlike at other festivals, the drink prices are very reasonable; there are no $3 sodas anywhere.

One of the highlights of Cinco de Mayo is the La Reina Pageant. The contestants are middle school and high school girls who perform choreographed dances to pop and mariachi music, answer questions, and are evaluated on poise and confidence. The contestants practice dancing three or four times a week for almost three months, and the result is a startlingly professional performance, which is always greeted with cheers.

Beyond the honor of being named Queen, Duchess, or Princess and prizes from the sponsors, the pageant helps girls develop self-confidence. “Typically, the girls come from impoverished backgrounds, but they’re in good standing academically,” says Samano. “Some of them are very shy, and we try to help them become more outgoing. Later the girls act as role models for other girls their age,” Pageant Chair Gricelda Samano says. For the past four years, she has coordinated the entire event, doing everything from recruiting contestants in local schools to choreographing the dances. Samano juggles her pageant duties with a job at Denton’s Municipal Court and a newly acquired real estate license. The pageant is a labor of love.

“In the Mexican culture, women don’t always play a big role in the community,” Samano says. “Girls are often told they don’t need to study, that it’s fine to just stay home and have kids. The pageant gives them higher self-esteem in life, and shows them that there is a role for them in society. It also teaches them to give something back. I find that incredibly satisfying.”

Cinco de Mayo is by no means limited to Mexican-Americans. Everyone who attends is an honorary citizen of Mexico for the day, whether by sticking a paper flower in their hair or tapping their toes to Tejano music. There may be larger festivals elsewhere, but Denton is considered the place to celebrate. “We’re the festival that local people in the Metroplex come to,” says Myra Anderson, Cinco de Mayo 2006 chairperson. “We draw people from Fort Worth, Dallas, Lewisville, Ponder, Justin—lots of people from out of town. They want to come to a place with a more local feel, that’s also very family friendly. When you get attendance like we’ve had, you know that you’re drawing from someplace other than Denton.”

:: How to Get Involved
Cinco de Mayo has volunteer openings for entertainment, setup and takedown, publicity, parade, and children’s activities committees. Contact Myra Anderson at (940) 349-8733. Committees meet the first Monday of every month at the Civic Center at 5:30 p.m. To volunteer for La Reina Pageant, contact (940) 594-6942.