Brownwood News – The Arts Council of Brownwood recently hosted the 2018 Cinco de Mayo Celebration in Historic Downtown Brownwood on Friday, May 4th. This is the third year for the annual festival, held on the Friday before Cinco de Mayo, and it has quickly become a favorite event for local residents and visitors alike.

 

 

The celebration was held from 5 to 10 p.m., spanning Baker, Center Avenue, and Chandler, with over 45 vendors and organizations participating. Attendees enjoyed a wide range of food and beverages as well as items for sale. Free games and activities were provided for young children including piñatas, pony rides, a horse-drawn wagon ride, face painting, coloring pages, tricycle races, cornhole games, and a bean bag toss. 

Street performances throughout the evening included the Brownwood High School Lionettes, MX Matrix Cheer and Dance, Zumba, and the Matachines de Sta. María Reina de la Paz. 

Members of A.M.P. (art.music.people.) provided live entertainment in Pat Coursey Park, and the Brownwood Art Association showcased their Spring Show at Cinco exhibit in The Vault. 

Inside the Lyric Theatre, guests were treated to free performances by San Antonio’s Guadalupe Dance Company and Austin’s Mariachi Los Toros, thanks to a generous entertainment sponsorship from La Botana Mexican Grill & Bar. 

The evening also included a Window Decorating Contest for downtown businesses, a Grito Contest, a Jalapeño Eating Contest, and a Homemade Salsa Contest, sponsored by Tr3s Leches Bakery. 

The celebration has grown from about 2,500 attendees the first year to over 5,500 guests this year, with over 1,100 attending the performances inside the Lyric Theatre. The number of vendors has doubled since the first year. 

Next year’s Cinco de Mayo Celebration will be on Friday, May 3rd. 

The Arts Council of Brownwood would like to thank all the sponsors, vendors, organizations, and volunteers that made the 2018 Cinco de Mayo Celebration possible. 

For more information about the Arts Council, please visit www.brownwoodartscouncil.org 

Contest results: 

  • Window Decorating Contest: 1st place Hamilton’s, 2nd place Advantage Office Products, 3rd place Nathan’s Jewelry 
  • Professional Homemade Salsa Contest: 1st place Humphrey Pete’s, 2nd place Los Cazadores, 3rd place Ricardo’s 
  • Amateur Homemade Salsa Contest: 1st place Michael Thornhill, 2nd place Sam Ruiz, 3rd place Shannan Burch 
  • Jalapeño Eating Contest: 1st place Angel Barrios, 2nd place Ashly Lobstein, 3rd place Willie Balencia Jr. 
  • Grito Contest: 1st place Jazmin Riquetty