Cooler temps couldn’t dampen enthusiasm for Pasco’s signature Cinco de Mayo festivities

Cooler temperatures and light rain might have discouraged community members and out-of-town visitors from celebrating Cinco de Mayo in Pasco this weekend.

But while crowds were thinner this year, downtown was still buzzing with activity, music and dance.

The city took over organizing the signature event at the last minute after the troubled Downtown Pasco Development Authority (DPDA) that ran the event for years was officially dissolved this month.

Next up is the Saturday, May 11, opening of the long-running Pasco Farmers Market, also downtown. And planning is also underway for the annual Fiery Foods festival in September.

The Cinco de Mayo parade kicked off Saturday morning, highlighting more than 30 businesses and organizations. Cars and trucks were decked out with Mexican flags, balloons and decorations, as passengers tossed candy and other treats to children on sidewalks.

Around Peanuts Park and the Farmers Market pavilion, 80 or more vendors lined the streets, surpassing about 60 last year.

Tres Hermanos Tacos was one of the vendors of tacos, drinks and fruit. The taco shop only caters at large community events like Cinco de Mayo, as well as weddings and parties.

This was his second year joining in the downtown festivities.

The main stage featured local talent for most of the afternoon. Performances included folklorico dancing and mariachi music from groups from Pasco and Chiawana high schools, the Kennewick Boys & Girls Club and the Kennewick-based Cielo de México Ballet Folklorico.

There also were traditional indigenous dances from the Colville tribes.

Cielo de México director Gabriela Ramirez said that the group enjoyed themselves.

“I heard a lot of great things from parents about the festival. We always enjoy bringing the kids out to experience the whole show and watch our community show out to support our dancers,” she said.

Since its first Cinco de Mayo performance in 2017, Cielo de México has grown from four to 100 dancers since 2017, now offering six different classes for a range of ages.

Ramirez added that the group’s iconic flowy dresses are bought from artisans in Mexico.

“When we started dancing in 2017, we would purchase our dresses from an online store. A couple of years ago, I started looking for a seamstress in Mexico, so we’ve been ordering from different states in Mexico to support artists and seamstresses there. We fund raise all year for them.”