“This is a fun family event that the whole community can enjoy,” said

Lupe Ontiveros, the chair of Liberal’s Cinco de Mayo Celebration

committee. “We have always viewed it as being more than a Hispanic

event. It’s a great way to bring everyone together and just have fun. So

please plan to join us on Saturday and Sunday, May 5-6.”

Cat 7 p.m. Saturday, May 5. “We’re doing things

differently this year to coordinate with the Kansas Sampler in Light

Park,” Ontiveros said. The line up will start at 6:30 p.m. on 11^th

Street, on the east side of Kansas Ave. Parade entries are free and

businesses, schools, churches, unique vehicles, non-profits and civic

organizations are invited to enter their floats or vehicles. The forms

are available at the Liberal Area Chamber of Commerce Office, 624-3855.

Prizes for the float competition will be $200 for first place, $100 for

second place and $50 for third place.

The parade will end at the Rock Island Depot, which is the location for

the next event, a free Street Dance lasting from 8 to 11 p.m. The street

dance will be held on the parking lot east of the Depot. “This is our

first time for a Street Dance,” Ontiveros said, “and it will feature

both Hispanic and rock’n roll music.” Two bands, Los Unicos and The

Smokin’ No-Nos, will be playing. The Cinco de Mayo Queen candidates will

be introduced at the dance.

Booth spaces are available for the Street Dance. Cost is $50 for

businesses and free for non-profits. “We hope to have food vendors,

drink vendors and see this as a great opportunity for a non-profit

fundraiser.” Those interested in having a booth at the dance should

contact Kay Burtzloff, 624-5400.

On Sunday, the Cinco de Mayo Festival will begin at 4 p.m. at the Seward

County Activity Center and the Queen will be officially crowned. “It’s

starting later this year so that we don’t compete with the Kansas

Sampler, which ends at 4 p.m.,” Ontiveros said. “There will be something

going on all the time, and plenty to do at all the booths.” The fun is

not scheduled to end until 7 p.m.

One of the new events this year will be the Princess Pageant. The

pageant is open to young women between ages 0 to 14 with different age

categories available. Cash prizes will be awarded. Contact Kristine

Brady, 626-0837 for more information.

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

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

Booth space is still available for businesses and or organizations at

the Seward County Activity Center. Cost is $150 for businesses and free

to non-profits. Contact Burtzloff at 624-5400 for more information and

to reserve a space.

“One of the things that make this event so successful is that the

proceeds are given back to help the community, like scholarships given

to Liberal High School students and donations to non-profit

organizations,” Ontiveros said.

“We’re still looking for sponsors for this year’s event,” Ontiveros

said. For more information about sponsorship opportunities and

activities, contact the Chamber of Commerce at 624-3855.