OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – This year’s Cinco de Mayo festival kicked off Friday, celebrating the Latino culture of South Omaha.
The festival attracted people like Leah Moody.
“The rides over there, I’m excited to do that.” Moody said.
Jacob Becerra-Rodriguez has been part of the festival for seven years and is looking forward to adding to the menu.
“We’re making enchiladas, Mexican style, out of potato and or chicken. Not at home every day, you don’t get enchiladas like this,” Becerra-Rodriguez said.
Weather and immigration concerns
This year the festival faces challenges. The first is chances of severe weather every day of the festival.
“It was gonna be, I don’t know, crazy today or the whole weekend, supposedly rain or something, so we’re not sure,” Becerra-Rodriguez said.
The second challenge is ongoing concerns over immigration enforcement. It comes 11 months after an ICE operation where more than 70 people were detained at Glenn Valley Foods. DHS said they were in the country illegally.
“Many people are kind of scared to go out or, you know, unless it’s necessary, just, you know, just, you know, for obvious reasons,” festival goer Reyna Zelaya said.
Community celebration continues
Those who showed up said they know what the festival means to the community.
“I think it’s a wonderful opportunity for a bunch of different people to come out and show their small businesses, and it’s a great way to support small businesses as well,” festival goer Alyssa Avalos said.
Rain or shine, they feel it’s important to be here.
“So, I think this kind of gives people just, like, a sense of community and, you know, joy to be able to be with each other and, you know, just enjoy life,” Zelaya said.
Sunday morning parade
Thousands of people lined both sides of 24th Street Saturday morning for the annual Cinco de Mayo Omaha parade in South Omaha.
People from different cultures and backgrounds watched low riders, performances and traditional dancers march through the neighborhood as part of a decades-long tradition.
“I like to bring my granddaughters out and my smallest granddaughter is walking in the parade today with her cheer squad,” said Nichole McGruder, a parade attendee.
Swachchanda Sapkota attended for the first time.
“This is my first time so I honestly do not know what to expect but I am excited,” Sapkota said.
Fernanda Martinez said the horses and cars are her favorite part.
“I was in the parade last year with my sorority. So I am excited to see them, but I am also excited to see everyone. The horses are also kind of my favorite part and sometimes they have cool cars,” Martinez said.
The parade is an extension of Cinco de Mayo Omaha, a 105-year-old celebration of Latino culture, community and traditions in South Omaha.
Martinez said the parade brings the community together.
“This is the only place in Omaha that you really see this much community get together for a parade besides downtown. I feel like for the Hispanic community this is really important and I never see this many people out here all at once. So its nice to see kind of a good place to gather in the community,” Martinez said.
“My father was Hispanic so I like to let my grandkids know that we are a little bit of everything in one and we can support everybody and get a long and be in good spirits at this time,” McGruder said.
Alondra Cambara said the parade makes her proud of her heritage.
“It does make me prouder because I am Guatemalan. It brings out a lot of kindness,” Cambara said.
The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.
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