— Games and music filled Fourth Street Southwest in downtown Willmar on Saturday for a Cinco de Mayo celebration. The day was meant to celebrate Hispanic cultures and welcome everyone to try something new.
Guests at the event were treated to a variety of food and activities highlighting the local Hispanic community. Hosted by the Latino Community Association of Willmar, the day featured a variety of games and foods.
“It is to show a little gratitude for our roots and show everybody else what we offer. We have Colombians, Puerto Ricans, Guatemalans,” Latino Community Association founding member Willie Gonzalez said.
Levi Jones / West Central Tribune
The event was put on through help and donations from community organizations including the city of Willmar, PACT for Families, the Lions Club, the Legion of St. Michael Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club and more.
“Everyone likes control over what they do. We became the Latino Community Association so we can fundraise for ourselves and put it back into the community. We can do work that the community wants. This festival is very family-oriented. We decided to go a family route,” Latino Community Association President Jennifer Mendoza said.
Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican-American holiday meant to recognize Mexico’s victory over France in the battle of Puebla in 1862. However, the Willmar celebration embraced all sorts of different cultures.
In order to show off the variety of cultures, several food trucks and food stands were set up offering different snacks, drinks and meals for guests. Holding it on a hot and sunny day drove several toward refreshing treats like Snomi’s Snow Cones, run by Myra Turrubiartes and Omar Arizmendi.
“This is about bringing everyone together and showing them a little bit about our culture. It is a time we can come and enjoy ourselves, be with our family, fill our tummies with some good food and celebrate. It doesn’t take much of a reason to celebrate,” Turrubiartes said.
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In an interview Gonzalez said he hopes to see the celebration grow in the future so that it can feature and support other communities in Willmar.
“My goal next year is to have a little bit more of the Somali community come … here too with us,” Gonzalez said.
The day also brought people out into the sun, which according to Gonzalez was vital after a wave of Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests earlier in the year.
“Central Minnesota has been (hit) pretty hard with immigration stuff and people are afraid of coming out. But we come together to do something positive, to get people back to normal,” Gonzalez said.
With over 100 guests, the event succeeded in bringing out the community to give them a chance to try something new, or to celebrate their heritage.
Levi Jones / West Central Tribune
Levi Jones / West Central Tribune
Levi Jones / West Central Tribune
Levi Jones is the West Central Tribune’s business reporter. After growing up in the Twin Cities, Jones attended Hamline University for journalism and media communications. After graduating in 2020, Jones has worked as a reporter covering anything from sports to politics.
