Villages residents and members of local performance groups are geared up and ready up for Saturday’s Cinco de Mayo celebrations.
Four-hour events will be held simultaneously at Lake Sumer Landing Market Square and Spanish Springs Town Square, beginning at 5 p.m. Villagers and others attending the events can expect festive music from high-energy salsa and mariachi band, as well as the opportunity to mingle with the always-popular stilt walkers and colorful, fun-oriented members of Clown Alley #179.
Not surprisingly, some of the biggest highlights of the annual Cinco de Mayo celebrations in Florida’s Friendliest Hometown are the routines put on by various performance groups.
That will certainly be the case again this year, as both squares will feature unique performances by several groups that are quite popular with Villagers.
Those attending the Market Square celebration will enjoy performances by Metro Latino (5-9 p.m.), Spanish Folkloric Dance Group (5:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m.), The Villages Twirlers Show Team & Drum Corps (6 p.m.) and Mystic Jewels (7:45 p.m.).
At Spanish Springs, the crowd will be wowed by Mariachi Viva La Mexico (5-9 p.m.), Prime Time Twirlers (5:45 p.m.), The Villages Cheerleaders (6 p.m.), The Villages Gem Stone Dancers (7 p.m.) and the Original Villages Belly Dancers (7:45 p.m.).
Cinco de Mayo is an annual celebration held on May 5 to commemorate the Mexican Army’s victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. Outnumbered three to one, the Mexican forces, under the guidance of Gen. Ignacio Zaragoza, held strong and defeated Napoleon III’s troops. It also marked the beginning of a series of battles that caused France to pull out of Mexico six years later.