Cincy-Cinco Latino cultural fest on tap

CINCINNATI - Cincy-Cinco, set for Saturday and Sunday at Fountain Square, offers music, dance, cuisine and plenty of family fun at the annual event that showcases Latino culture, values and traditions.

The free festival takes place from noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday, May 7 and noon to 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 8 at Fountain Square at Fifth and Vine streets downtown.

The Tri-State’s premier Latino cultural fest – now in its eighth year – will be particularly special as it coincides with Mother’s Day.

“There isn’t a culture in the world, and certainly Latinos are no exception, that doesn’t value the most important role that mothers play in all our lives. For that reason, this year we will be honoring and celebrating mothers throughout the weekend,” said event co-chairman Alfonso Cornejo.

Multiple activities are planned for mothers. Mariachis will stroll the square serenading mom and in the children’s area, kids will be able to make their mothers a special gift. Additionally, many of the sponsors will have mementos for mothers.

The festival falls on the weekend after May 5 and celebrates cinco de mayo but it highlight much more than the Mexican holiday, said Neil Comber, co-founder of Cincy-Cinco.

“Although Cincy-Cinco is a celebration of the Mexican cinco de mayo holiday, since inception we chose to make the event a celebration of all Latino cultures,” Comber said in a news release. “People of all ages and backgrounds have the opportunity to enjoy and learn about the rich heritage of Latino music, dance and food throughout Latin America.”

The festival will feature music and dance throughout the day with the best in regional and local Latino music. Dance troupes from Mexico, Peru, and the Carribean, including the famous Mexican Mariachi style of music, will take to the stage. Highlight of the day will be the Ballet Horizontes from Chicago, which will perform a wide variety of Mexican traditional dances beautifully attired in typical costumes. Highlight of the evening will be the opportunity to dance to the hottest sounds in salsa with Cincinnati’s first all female salsa band – Grupo Kandela.

There will be plenty of authentic Latino cuisine to sample, as well. provided by local restaurants. Featured restaurants include Taqueria Mercado, which will sell authentic tacos and other Mexican favorites, Valle Verde with Guatemalan food, and El Manatial with Colombian specialties. Also members of the community will be offering tasty “botanas” or appetizers to allow people to sample a variety of favorite Latin American treats.

Corporate sponsors, like P&G, PNC Bank and Kroger, also will be present to showcase their products and services in fun interactive ways.

Cincy-Cinco is the largest Latino cultural celebration in the region, drawing in recent years 10,000 to 15,000 people. All proceeds benefit Tri-State charities that support the Latino community. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that Greater Cincinnati's Hispanic population numbers about 24,000.

For more information about the festival, visit www.cincy-cinco.com .