Mayor will visit the Cinco de Mayo Fesival

MAYOR GREG BALLARD TO APPEAR AT CINCO DE MAYO FESTIVAL

The Mayor's Office and ALMA (Association of Mexican Leaders in Action) are proud to present the 5th Annual Indy's 5 de Mayo Festival. The Cinco de Mayo Festival is a family friendly and oriented event that began five years ago as an avenue to retain and share the Mexican culture with the Indianapolis Community.

For the first time, the Mayor's Office has decided to fully support the Cinco de Mayo Festival this year.

"Indianapolis has a growing and thriving International Community and this festival is one example of many International festivals that will be happening this summer," said Mayor Ballard.

The Festival is also fully endorsed by the Mexican Consulate in Indianapolis. The celebration will have free health clinics, a children's area with inflatable games, Latin American and Mexican foods, live music and a National City Duranguense contest, which is a popular Mexican dance.

Although not an official holiday, "Cinco de Mayo" has been fully embraced by Americans everywhere as a day to celebrate the Mexican culture. People usually celebrate the day by enjoying Mexican dishes and drinks. Event organizers hope that everyone comes to the festival to experience firsthand the Mexican culture.

WHO:
Mayor Ballard's Office and the Association of Mexican Leaders in Action (ALMA)

WHAT:
The Cinco de Mayo Festival

WHERE:
Garfield Park
Raymond Street
(Between Madison St. and Shelby St.)

WHEN:
Saturday, May 3
Noon - 8:00 p.m.
Opening Ceremony 5:30 p.m.

5 de Mayo Heritage
"El Cinco de Mayo" is a cultural celebration that was created to provide family fun entertainment, to embrace and celebrate the rich traditions of the Mexican culture. Cinco de Mayo is in celebration of a battle in the town of Puebla, Mexico in which youth took up arms to defend their own on May 5, 1862 to expel the French occupation during the Battle of Puebla.

About ALMA
ALMA (Association of Mexican Leaders in Action) is a volunteer-based organization that works specifically on searching for funding for Latinos to advocate on to college through scholarship opportunities. ALMA also assists with community projects that benefit the Mexican and the Hispanic communities in Central Indiana. Proceeds from the Cinco de Mayo event go to support scholarships through the Mexican Scholarship Fund administered by the Central Indiana Community Foundation.

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