Cinco de Mayo celebrates the Mexican army's defeat of the French at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. Although the French eventually won the war, the battle has become a symbol of Mexican identity, particularly for Mexican Americans.
For many years, there were boisterous if unorganized Cinco de Mayo celebrations in the Roseland neighborhood, some of which led to confrontations between revelers and police. But since 2006, when the community took charge of the festival, the event has stood as a positive and peaceful example of cooperation between Roseland and local police.
And while Sonoma County sheriff's deputies and Santa Rosa police were present, they faded into the background. Deputies even walked through the crowd handing out stickers to giggly children.
"This is a wonderful event, especially for the kids," said Holly Ficher, an emergency dispatcher who came with her two daughters, Miley, 7, and Sienna, 4. "We live here, and this is a very positive thing we do as a community."
Along with dozens of food and drinks stands, there were booths for political candidates, fire departments and local businesses. Two large music stages, one on each end of the parking lot, featured mostly local performers, including Santa Rosa bands Mariachi Tarasco and Los Nuevos Aventurero and Arnulfo "On Strings," a Rohnert Park-based acoustic guitarist.
The wide display of Mexican tradition was part of what drew many to the festival.
"It teaches the little kids about our culture," said Luci Campa, 36, who splits her time between Santa Rosa and Mexcio, where Cinco de Mayo isn't as important as Mexico's Independence Day. "In Mexico, we celebrate Sept. 16. I wonder why Cinco de Mayo is so huge here but it's a good thing. Any time we get to show people all our traditions is a good thing."
You can reach Staff Writer Elizabeth M. Cosin at 521-5276 or elizabeth.cosin@pressdemocrat.com.
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