News Flash

A weekend of fun for the entire family is planned in May at the Second Annual Roswell Cinco de Mayo Festival, which brings together food, family and fun. The May 5-6 event at Russ DeKay Soccer Complex (1500 N. Grand Ave.) is being organized by the City of Roswell, Roswell Hispano Chamber of Commerce, Roswell Chamber of Commerce and the Roswell/Chaves County Economic Development Corporation.

Roswell Cinco de Mayo will kick off Friday, May 5, at 6 p.m. and go until 9 p.m. The festival continues Saturday, May 6, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Admission to the outdoor festival is free.

The Cinco de Mayo “fiesta” features live entertainers both days, with country singer Kyle Park headlining Friday evening. Saturday has Tejano singer Michael Salgado entertaining the crowd.

Food vendors will highlight the best of the area’s cuisine and Vending Row will include a Mercado where festival goers can purchase items from jewelry to art. In addition, nonprofit organizations and local businesses will be on hand to answer questions and hand out information about what they do and offer.  Also included in the happenings is an official Kids Zone that will have everything from local dance and sporting club demonstrations, children’s games, paintball, inflatables and more.

A carnival will also be at the event this year and will get a head-start on the festival when it opens Thursday, May 4, at 6 p.m. The carnival will also continue once the festival finishes. The carnival will close Sunday, May 6, at 2 p.m.

A coed volleyball tournament and the Roswell Chamber of Commerce’s Fiesta Tug of War are among the sporting events at the festival. “Friendly and Fun Competitions” will feature taco- and jalapeno-eating contests sponsored by Los Cerritos. The Roswell Humane Society is sponsoring a Chihuahua Race. The newly added Couples Dance Competition will bring an added dimension of entertainment to the event. The Roswell Hispano Chamber of Commerce will host a Car and Bike Show that will feature everything from classic cars to speed racers.

Sponsors of the event are Desert Sun Auto Group, Xcel Energy, Tobosa Developmental Services, Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell, Pioneer Bank, Bank of the Southwest, Valley Bank of Commerce, Otero Federal Credit Union, Central Valley Electric, Lopez Insurance, Cattle Baron Restaurants and Straight Shot Wireless.

Organizers of Cinco de Mayo 2017 are looking forward to bringing together all community groups, merchants and individuals for a one-of-a-kind event. A final roster of entertainers and schedule of activities are still be developed. For more information about the festival or becoming a vendor or corporate sponsor, contact the Roswell Parks and Recreation Department at (575) 624-6719. Vendor forms and registration and waiver forms for festival competitions, contests and events are available at https://seeroswell.com/events/roswell-cinco-de-mayo-2017