MONROE - While rain dampened the turnout at last year's Cinco de Mayo celebration in Monroe, Sunday's event was a popular success.
Barb Nelson, Monroe Main Street director, said people of every age came to the festival and she was happy with the number of people who attended. Although she didn't have a specific number of people who were there, there was a large crowd throughout the day. She was happy with the number of people who attended the festival.
"There's a lot of kids here," she said while children laughed and played all around the north side of the Green County Courthouse.
It was a day for children to enjoy games and adults to listen to Mexican music provided by "The New Song," a family band from Mexico City.
Hector Rubalcava, leader of the band, said the group tries to get everybody involved and demonstrates the importance of family.
The idea for the band came after he traveled to Latin America. He returned home, he said, wanting to teach other people about the music of his country.
Even the family band got involved with the children's games.
Rubalcava asked Nelson to gather the children around for a game that included music.
Similar to musical chairs, children laughed and walked quickly under outstretched arms as the group played music for a game of Wheel of Fortune, or, in Spanish, La Rueda de La Fortuna. When the music stopped arms came down to catch one of the children. The goal was to make it through the arch without being caught.
There were also games of musical chairs, pin the tail on the donkey and hot potato for the kids. And there was a piñata filled with candy. That proved popular when it broke and the candy spilled onto the ground.
Nelson said the warm weather and sun brought many people to the festival, which celebrates the initial victory of Mexican forces over the French army on May 5, 1862.
Barb Nelson, Monroe Main Street director, said people of every age came to the festival and she was happy with the number of people who attended. Although she didn't have a specific number of people who were there, there was a large crowd throughout the day. She was happy with the number of people who attended the festival.
"There's a lot of kids here," she said while children laughed and played all around the north side of the Green County Courthouse.
It was a day for children to enjoy games and adults to listen to Mexican music provided by "The New Song," a family band from Mexico City.
Hector Rubalcava, leader of the band, said the group tries to get everybody involved and demonstrates the importance of family.
The idea for the band came after he traveled to Latin America. He returned home, he said, wanting to teach other people about the music of his country.
Even the family band got involved with the children's games.
Rubalcava asked Nelson to gather the children around for a game that included music.
Similar to musical chairs, children laughed and walked quickly under outstretched arms as the group played music for a game of Wheel of Fortune, or, in Spanish, La Rueda de La Fortuna. When the music stopped arms came down to catch one of the children. The goal was to make it through the arch without being caught.
There were also games of musical chairs, pin the tail on the donkey and hot potato for the kids. And there was a piñata filled with candy. That proved popular when it broke and the candy spilled onto the ground.
Nelson said the warm weather and sun brought many people to the festival, which celebrates the initial victory of Mexican forces over the French army on May 5, 1862.