This year’s Cinco de Mayo celebration for Great Bend will take place Saturday, May 3, in the courthouse square. Once again, the celebration will start with an 11 a.m. parade that starts at Brit Spaugh Park and proceeds south on Main Street to the courthouse square.
Joe Hernandez, who is president of the committee organizing the event, wants everyone to know they are welcome to this celebration of Mexican culture. After the parade, the celebration will continue with an opening ceremony at noon. For the next four hours, there will be a fiesta in the square with Mexican entertainment, food and crafts that Hernandez hopes the entire community will enjoy.
“Everyone expects a lot of Mexican food,” Hernandez said, adding they will not be disappointed.
Riding in the parade will be the 2014 Cinco de Mayo Queen, Andrea Montes, and princesses, Jazmin Barrera an Daniela Reyes. They were selected at a pageant held Friday at St. Rose Auditorium. Also competing were Adriana Gurrola and Fatima Valles.
Hernandez said the Cinco de Mayo committee is still looking for someone who can carry the USA flag alongside the Mexican flag in Saturday’s parade. Anyone who is interested may contact him by telephone, 620-639-2699.
Cinco de Mayo is Spanish for the Fifth of May. It commemorates the Mexican army’s 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War (1861-1867). In the United States, Cinco de Mayo has evolved into a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage.
Hernandez also expressed thanks to the many individuals and businesses in the community for their efforts and donations to the 21st annual Cinco de Mayo celebration in Great Bend.

Shriners to join parade
This year’s Cinco de Mayo Parade will be joined by members of the Isis Shrine Temple, according to Great Bend Shriner Greg King. The group is holding its spring convention in Great Bend on Saturday.
The parade-within-a-parade will follow the regular Cinco de Mayo lineup, except for the horses, which will be at the end, King said.