Cinco de Mayo Celebration Set For May 2 At Activity Center

Dean Aragon, the chair of Libera s Cinco de Mayo Celebration committee,

which is sponsored by the Liberal Area Chamber of Commerce. We have

always viewed it as being more than a Hispanic event. I s a great way

to bring everyone together and just have fun. So please plan to join us

on Sunday, May 2

The event will kick off with a downtown Liberal parade at 1:30 p.m. and

a full schedule of activities and booths at the activity center from

2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. W ve got great entertainment and we also have some

special activities and games to keep the kids involved Aragon said.

Seven young women are vying for Cinco de Mayo Queen, including Erika

Pacheco, Veronica Baray, Brianna Lucero, Gaby Marquez, Eliza Pacheco,

Ariana Paral and Yasel Manriquez. The queen candidates are selling

raffle tickets that include a big-screen television, Wii system and gift

certificates and the one who raises the most scholarship money

The Cinco De Mayo Parade will start at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, May 2, from

Light Park and proceed down Kansas Avenue to the Depot. Line up will be

at 12:30 p.m. Parade entries are free and businesses, schools, churches,

unique vehicles, non-profits and civic organizations are invited to

enter their floats or vehicles. Julio Jimenez is the parade chair and

may be contacted at 391-3232. Parade entry forms are also available at

the Chamber office.

the parade. W ll be handing out tickets that people can bring to the

National Beef booth at the activity center and get a frozen pound of

hamburger he said.

There will be cash prizes for the parade winners. First place will win

$200, second will take home $100 and third will receive $50. Winners

will be announced at the Seward County Activity Center.

The festivities will begin at 2:30 p.m. at the Seward County Activity

Center. Featured musical entertainment will include Mariachi Real del

Oro from Denver and Manuel Hernandez. There will also be an exhibit of

Zumba Dancing and then live music for a popular dance.

Another new addition to the entertainment will be a trampoline bungee

jump.

Anyone interested in entering their home-made salsa in the Salsa Contest

need to bring a quart of it to the festivities. First prize is $100,

second prize is $75 and third is $50.

For those who have the stomach for it, there is the Jalapeno Eating

Contest, with first place $100, second place $75 and third place $50.

The Cinco de Mayo Committee gave out $3,900 in scholarships in 13

scholarships on Monday, April 19, at the Liberal High School Academic

Awards Banquet. Receiving the scholarships were Blake Abbott, Teresa

Dinh, John Frazier, Cesar Garcia, Emily Jackson, Maggie Maier, Bryan

Murillo, Morgan Riggs, Valerie Rito, Brooke Scheurman, Megan Scheurer,

Adiran Vazquez and Lydia Young. This yea s Queen candidates will also

receive scholarships.

For more information about Cinco de Mayo sponsorships and activities,

contact Dean Aragon, 655-7149