Cinco de Mayo events planned

A city-wide Cinco de Mayo celebration in Portales on Saturday at Lindsey Park will feature live music, a softball tournament, a horseshoe tournament, piñata breakings, diabetes testing and health information.

In Clovis, Cinco de Mayo festivities will include an evening fiesta at The American Legion Post 25, featuring music by celebrated New Mexico band, Los Tropicales, who will bring their unique sounds of bolero, Tejano and Latino Jazz. The performance is part of the Clovis Community College 2007-2008 Cultural Arts Series.

The Clovis event will also include dinner, piñatas and a few surprises, according to Clovis Community College Cultural Affairs Director Christy Mendoza.

Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican holiday now widely observed in the United States which commemorates the victory of a small Mexican army against French troops in Puebla, Mexico in 1862. Led by General Ignacio Zaragoza of Texas, the army successfully defeated Napoleon and his better-equipped, larger forces.

Veda Urioste of the City of Portales Cultural Affairs department, said the Portales celebration will be geared toward the family and toward people of all cultures.

“With all of the events that Cultural Affairs sponsors, we are trying to bring everyone in the community together to celebrate our different cultures,” Urioste said. “We also sponsor events for St. Patrick’s Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day and we don’t want people to think that these events are just for blacks or for Hispanics or for whatever culture they relate to. They are for everyone to celebrate.”

The Portales event will also feature food concession stands, Head Start registration and the Portales Fire Department Smokehouse.

In Clovis, Los Tropicales will play a rich diversity of music, from swinging retro to traditional renditions. Originally from Las Vegas, Mendoza, who saw the group perform at the Fiestas of Las Vegas last year, said, “They made me jump and I wasn’t alone. The whole plaza was popping with fun when they came on. It’s those crazy horns!”

Teams are still being accepted for the Portales Cinco de Mayo Co-Ed Softball One Pitch Single Elimination Tournament. For more information about Cinco de Mayo events in Portales, including the softball tournament, call 356-6662, ext. 12 or 18.

Tickets are required for the Clovis event and are available for $13 a person at the Clovis Community College Cashier’s window or at the door on the evening of the event. For more information about the Clovis Cinco de Mayo celebration, go to www.clovis.edu or call 769-4956.

Cinco de Mayo celebrations

In Portales

• 1- 6 p.m. Saturday at Lindsey Park

• Free admission

• Softball and horseshoe tournament, live music, piñatas, concession stands, cake walk, diabetes screenings, health information

• Information: 356-6662, ext 12 or 18.

In Clovis

• 6 p.m. Saturday at the American Legion Post 25

• $13 admission

• Music by New Mexico band Los Tropicales, dinner, piñatas, plus a few surprises

• Information: 769-4956