Photo Gallery: Hundreds Celebrate Mexican Culture at Monrovia’s First Cinco de Mayo Festival

A swirl of activity including music, dancing, and educational activities infused on Sunday, the first official event marking the holiday in Monrovia's 125 year history.

Hundreds came out to a closed-off section of Colorado Boulevard to celebrate the Mexican holiday. The Monrovia Cinco de Mayo Association organized the afternoon affair, a first for Monrovia.

"This is making history. In the San Gabriel Valley we don’t have too many festivals like this one," said Rutilio Castrellon, president of the Cinco de Mayo Association, as he welcomed the crowd in both English and Spanish.

The main stage hosted a fantastic variety of entertainment that included folkloric dance troupes, Monrovia’s own Delgado Brothers, and the Grammy award-winning Mariachi Divas, an all-female mariachi group. Castrellon and Ralph Walker kept a growing crowd entertained between the musical sets.

On the opposite end of the street there was a stage for children’s entertainment, which also featured a variety of entertainment that included folk dancers, a performance by the Band, and a magician.

"I’m looking forward to learning more about the culture, the dances, and listening to the music," said Monica Leon, who attended the festival with her husband George. The couple are also regulars at Castrellon’s Old Town business, , and said they wanted to support him.

Castrellon’s childhood memories of the festivals in his home town of Zacatecas, Mexico, were a big influence in motivating him to celebrate Cinco de Mayo in Monrovia, he said.

Jimmy O’Balles, co-founder of the Cinco de Mayo Association, told the crowd that one of the major reasons for the effort he’d put into the festival was to honor his mother.

"I’ve dedicated this whole event and my effort to her memory," O’Balles said, holding up the Cinco de Mayo Festival program. The back of it featured his mother’s photograph.

The Cinco de Mayo Association also honored the memory of their treasurer and director of education and activities, Enrique Diaz, who passed away on March 28. Diaz was an educator at Mt. San Antonio College, and an artist, writer, and poet.

"He inspired hundreds, young and old alike," said Rena Delgado, the association’s public relations officer. "Enrique Diaz is a true Latino role model and hero."

Mayor Mary Ann Lutz was on also hand to welcome the festival’s attendees.

"Events like this only happen because people want it to happen. A group of people said, ‘We need to celebrate Cinco de Mayo right," she said, acknowledging the Cinco de Mayo Association’s hard work.

"If you live here, you’re not surprised this is happening. And if you’re new to Monrovia, welcome to the great city of Monrovia! We have a lot more to show you." she said. She repeated her welcome in Spanish with the assistance of a sheet of paper.

"Good job!" founder and organizer Rudy Castrellon complimented her on her efforts as he took the microphone. "Vamos a celebrar! We’re going to celebrate!"

Attendees roaming the street fair could eat tacos, buy T-shirts, or indulge in face painting. Numerous businesses and organizations also set up information booths.

"I think it’s pretty amazing," said Terri Cardona, who was manning the information booth for the Cinco de Mayo Association, along with Christine Bennett, the association’s volunteer coordinator. Bennett estimated that at least fifty volunteers were helping with the event.

Cardona admitted she has only been working on the festival for about six weeks, but others had been working on it much longer.

"It’s actually been about five years in the making," Cardona said. "They’re amazing people. They’re all people who just have a heart and want to give back to the community."

Rosalind Olivas and Geraldine Mora were manning the booth for the Monrovia Latino Heritage Society.

"They’re recognizing the Latino people. A lot of the themes in Monrovia are Latin," said Olivas, who noted that she had attended and Monrovia High School while growing up in Monrovia.

Earlier Sunday, Mora and Olivas attended the dedication ceremony to rename Olive Avenue Park in honor of their grandmother, Lucinda Garcia.

"She lived in Monrovia all her life," Mora said, adding that her grandmother’s wedding dress is on display at Adobe de Palomares in Pomona, the home of her ancestors.

"We have a history that can go back 350 years," Mora said.