Cinco de Mayo organizer sees festival as way to build closer-knit community

“A good time was had by all.”

It was very hard to argue that statement from longtime Hispanics of Today and Tomorrow member Sally Sanchez near the end of Emporia’s annual Cinco de Mayo celebration Saturday. Sanchez says Cinco is a good springboard to share the Hispanic culture with the larger community, as well as a good way to share more information about HOTT.

Cinco this year featured traditional and salsa dancing, lots of food, special recognitions for Emporia Spanish Speakers and HOTT scholarship winners, as well as the coronation of royalty — Anyelina Torres as Cinco de Mayo Queen, Juliet Mallon as Princess. A street dance featuring Orquesta Cambaleche closed down the event.

Sanchez says details are pending, but HOTT could well look at ways to expand Cinco de Mayo further in hopes of bringing more people together.