Roseland's population will swell by thousands on Sunday when its annual Cinco de Mayo celebration draws visitors from around the county.
"It's a Sunday and it's going to be beautiful weather - between 5,000 and 8,000 people," predicted Georgina Warmoth, a member of the organizing committee that this year focused on building an event dominated by local attractions.
A full plate of food and entertainment, vendors and political and nonprofit booths and services are on tap at the alcohol-free event, which is set for 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the parking lot of the old Albertsons on Sebastopol Road.
Nine immigration attorneys also will be present, reflecting heightened anticipation that an overhaul of immigration laws is near.
More than a dozen acts including Karen Lopez, Mariachi Jalisco and Banda Pacifica are scheduled to perform on two stages through the day, which commemorates a Mexican victory over the French in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.
And more than 70 vendors have reserved space. Among them are the restaurants La Fondita, Willie Bird and Mi Tierra, a Sebastopol Road newcomer.
"The focus is trying to get local talent to perform; we wanted to support local entertainers," said Linda Lemus of Santa Rosa, who has been involved in the event from its start. "And this year, we wanted to give the first spaces to the local businesses."
Now in its eighth year, the celebration was founded by community leaders and residents grown weary of the spasms of violence that had started to regularly mar the day, for which no formal event was previously held.
By the mid-2000s, phalanxes of police officers and sheriff's deputies formed in the Albertsons parking lot each May 5 expecting trouble. Confrontations with alcohol-fueled revelers became something of a spectator sport.
The stage for action finally was set in 2005 when officers and deputies dodged fusillades of rocks and chunks of concrete.
"We decided to have a family-friendly, safe event," Lemus said.
In its seven years to date, the event has been incident-free, say authorities who have worked closely with the organizers.
Now it resembles traditional Mexican weekend gatherings, said Lilia Gonzalez, who oversaw the vendor registration.
"To me that's sort of how it feels, like a Sunday afternoon, after-church event," she said.
As of Tuesday, 100 volunteers had signed up to help, and probably 100 more will enlist, said Francisco Cano, who is coordinating that aspect of the behind-the-scenes effort.
They work hard, he said, but mostly at the start and end of the event.
"During, it's a really relaxed and fun time for the volunteers," Cano said.
A contingent of volunteers comes each year from the Graton Day Labor Center, and on Sunday another group is coming to help after first assisting at the Santa Rosa Junior College Day Under the Oaks.
"It's a close community," Gonzalez said. "That makes it fun."
For more information on the celebration, visit www.santarosacincodemayo.com.
You can reach Staff Writer Jeremy Hay at 521-5212 or jeremy.hay@pressdemocrat.com.
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This article has been revised to reflect the following correction
CORRECTION: Added June 13, 2013
?The name of the restaurant Mi Tierra, a Cinco de Mayo fiesta food vendor, was incorrect. In the original version of this story it was called La Tierra.
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