Latina Dancers perform at Veterans Park for Cinco de Mayo Festivities. May 5, 2018. Image: Brian Gailey — Latina Dancers perform at Veterans Park for Cinco de Mayo Festivities.
May 5, 2018. Image: Brian Gailey

Saturday in Klamath Falls, hundreds came out to celebrate Cinco de Mayo together. The fiesta starting with a parade down Main Street at 11:00 AM and ending at Veterans Park soon after. The city park set on the shores of Lake Ewauna, was full of joy, music, laughter, dancing and the smells of delicious Mexican street food.

It is a common misconception that Cinco de Mayo is celebrated as Mexico’s Independence Day. When, in fact, the Independence Day of Mexico is September 16th. Inside the borders of Mexico, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated as a military holiday as the country honors a victory of the Mexican Army against French Soldiers during the Battle of Puebla in 1862.

However, today, in the United States, Cinco de Mayo has evolved into a fiesta reveling Mexican-American culture, heritage, and pride.

One of the major highlights of the festival included the crowning of a Cinco de Mayo Queen, Victoria Gaeta and Princess, Beatriz Serrato. Gaeta student Henley High School and Gaeta student at Lost River Jr/Sr High School. Both crowns will be awarded a college scholarship based on money raised at the festival.

The local festival was organized and sponsored by Lutheran Community Services and the Hispanic Advisory Board.