(Seguin) — Cinco de Mayo festivities return this weekend to downtown Seguin. The League of United Latin American Citizens, (LULAC) Council 682 is inviting families over for its 17th Annual Cinco de Mayo Pachanga. The free two-day celebration will be held on Friday and Saturday in Seguin’s Central Park.
LULAC member Abby Mata says festivities kick off today at 5 p.m.
“We have been planning for months. We’re super excited about it. Today, we are planning to begin with the opening remarks at 5 p.m. with our Mayor Donna Dodgen. We also have a contestant that won the first ever singing contest we had. They submitted a video and she’ll be singing the national anthem. Her name is Yuri Pardo and we’ll be having the AJB Middle School Mariachi Band coming out performing for us. This is their first year performing for us as well. We have Diva Dance that has a local chapter here in Seguin. They’ll be doing a Latin dance class at around 6:40. We have our first band hitting the stage at 7:30. We have the Cumbia Movement Band, and at 9:30 we have our local hometown heroes, Conjunto Cats, hitting the stage at 9:30,” said Mata.
Mata says Saturday’s line-up is even bigger with cars, costumes and contests.
“One of the first things we’re having is the car show. That’s something new that we’re doing this year. We’re bringing back the Lucha Libre, and then our bands begin at 7:30. So we’ll have Conjunto Calidad, which is also a local band, and then we’ll have the Rock Bottom String Band that’ll be joining us before them, and then Musica Volcan, an 11-piece band coming out of Austin. Then, we also do have like two contests, the Concha Eating Contest and the Chancla throwing contest,” said Mata.
Specific start times for Saturday include Danza Guadalupe at 12:30 p.m., Lucha Libre at 1:30 p.m., the Chancla Throwing Contest at 3:30 p.m., car show awards at 4 p.m., another Diva Dance Latin Dance Class at 4:15 p.m., Rock Bottom String Band at 5 p.m., the Concha Eating Contest at 6:30 p.m., Conjunto Calidad at 7:30 p.m. and Musica Volcan at 9:30 p.m.
A Cinco de Mayo favorite is also back with the Bark in the Barrio Dog Costume Contest beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Mata says the contest is open to all dogs and costumes.
“It’s come best dressed. Last year, we had a doggie come up as Juan Seguin. So, we’re looking to see what creative costumes they come up with this year. All are welcome, all types of costumes,” said Mata.
This year’s event will also feature local vendors, food booths, a plant swap meet, a children’s area and artwork featuring Ms. Terkuko and her “Signs of Recovery” exhibit which supports survivors of childhood poverty.
In addition, residents are invited over with their dogs for free pet microchipping.
Mata says microchipping is first-come, first-serve over the two-day period.
“We have five different organizations joining. They’re all pretty much local chapters in Seguin, and they’re doing over 300 micro-tipping throughout two days. So, they’ll do 150 on Friday and 150 on Saturday,” said Mata.
The microchipping services are being provided by Seguin Snips Squad, Kingdom Rescue, ARF-Texas, Alex’s Doggy Daycare and Boarding, Canyon Critters Pet Sitting and Boarding, and Moni’s Mutt Hut.
Proceeds from this year’s Cinco de Mayo celebration will go to help support the group’s scholarship fund benefiting local students.