Cinco De Mayo Celebration This Sunday, May 3rd

ź??This is a fun family event that the whole community can enjoy,ź?ť said Hortencia Villezcas, the chair of Liberalź??s Cinco de Mayo Celebration committee. ź??We have always viewed it as being more than a Hispanic event. Itź??s a great way to bring everyone together and just have fun. So please plan to join us on Sunday, May 3.ź?ť

Five Liberal High School students are competing in the Cinco de Mayo Queen contest. They include Dalia Camacho, 16, daughter of Cecilia and Reyes Camacho; Leandra Contreras, 17, daughter of Diana Herrera; Silvia Moreno, 17, daughter of Jesus and Maria Moreno; Sheila Arellano, 18, daughter of Linda Balli; and Vanaessa Amador, 16, daughter of Maria Amador.

The Cinco De Mayo Parade will start at 1 p.m. Sunday, May 3, from Light Park and proceed down Kansas Avenue to the Depot. Line up will be at 12:30 p.m. Parade entries are free and businesses, schools, churches, unique vehicles, non-profits and civic organizations are invited to enter their floats or vehicles. Gilberto Rito is the parade chair and may be contacted at 309-8361. Parade entry forms are also available at

the Chamber office.

There will be cash prizes for the parade winners. First place will win $200, second will take home $100 and third will receive $50. Winners will be announced at the Seward County Activity Center .

The festivities will begin at 2 p.m. at the Seward County Activity Center . Featured musical entertainment will include singer Eddie Arreola ź??El Emperadorź?ť and Mariachi Santa Cecilia.

Anyone interested in entering their home-made salsa in the Salsa Contest needs to bring a quart of it to the festivities. First prize is $150, second prize is $100 and third is $75.

For those who have the stomach for it, there is the Jalape?¤o Eating Contest, with first place $100, second place $75 and third place $50. The jalape?¤os are being donated by Dillonź??s Supermarket. ź??

ź??There will be something going on all the time,ź?ť said Vallezcas, ź??and plenty to do at all the booths.ź?ť The fun is not scheduled to end until 5:30 p.m.

The Cinco de Mayo Committee gave seven $300 scholarships on Monday, April 27, at the Liberal High School Academic Awards Banquet. Receiving the scholarships were Valentine Borunda, Andrea Courkamp, Kelsey Darnell, Brittany Odle, Austin Parnell, Thuy Troung and Molly Wichman. This yearź??s Queen candidates also receive scholarships.

For more information about Cinco de Mayo sponsorships and activities, contact Jack Cooley at 655-5758.