WATSONVILLE — Under slightly overcast skies and an occasional mild breeze, the 28th annual Cinco de Mayo celebration took place Sunday in downtown Watsonville.
The alcohol- and tobacco-free, family-oriented event drew thousands of people to soak in the live music, dancing and fun. The live music dominated Main Street, which was shut down for the event along with nearby Peck Street. Numerous food booths offered a wealth of grilled, chilled, roasted or baked foods.
“It’s always a good group of people,” said chief organizer Oscar Rios, Watsonville mayor. “This year we have some very special music lined up; that’s what all these people are here for. It should be a very nice event.”
From banda to mariachi and ranchero to Norteño, hundreds of people, young and old, took to the streets to dance away the afternoon to the lively mix of Mexican music.
Sponsored by Fiestas Patrias de Watsonville, the celebration spreads out on a section of Main Street, Peck Street and Watsonville Plaza.
Cinco de Mayo, or the Fifth of May, commemorates the Battle of Puebla, where a 4,500-member Mexican army of men, women and children defeated sophisticated French troops on May 5, 1862. Though heavily outnumbered, the Mexicans defeated an army that had gone undefeated for almost 50 years.
Watsonville Police Master Officer Alex Rodriguez said the crowd was pleasant and well behaved.
“Everything is going well,” he said. “It’s a nice day and you can tell people are here to have a good time.”
