Thousands of people made their way to the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds on Saturday to get their fix of towering carnival rides, fried favorites and lines of craft and merchandise vendors for the Stockton Cinco de Mayo Festival.
But for many, it was also for taking in the sounds of Mexican bandas, weaving through exhibits of detailed low-riders and getting their fix of never-ending fruta picada and aguas frescas. It’s a distinctly American celebration that roots itself in multiculturalism.
“This is where we all gather,” said Ines Ruiz-Houston, a senior staff member with El Concilio, the city’s Latino and immigrant rooted nonprofit that put on the festival. “…No matter what’s happening today at home or in the nation.”
With one Stockton staple, the San Joaquin County Fair, moved to December, organizers described Saturday’s festival as a “kick-off” for summer, especially for families looking for affordable entertainment.
“One of the things that we’re proud of is that it continues to grow every year,” said Jose Rodriguez, El Concilio’s president and CEO, referencing the event’s expected 60,000 attendees over three days, outgrowing its previous home in Weber Point.
Rodriguez, who has participated in the festival since joining El Concilio more than 32 years ago, said the event also reflects how Stockton’s immigrant and Mexican American community has made the holiday their own.
“That’s the great thing about being in America,” he said. “Being American is being able to celebrate the fact that we have two different cultures that blend together. Whether we’re speaking Spanish or speaking English, we take a certain pride in knowing where we came from and that we’re able to celebrate it in this great country.”
Nestled at the heart of the sprawling fairgrounds, Carlos Macias, 36, and his family ladled out cups of sweet aguas frescas. His “compadre,” Henry Avila, could be heard through the blares of regional Mexican music, enticing festival goers to stop at their booth for Charlie’s Fruttilocos.
“Tenemos los ricos esquites, las ricas aguas frescas!” yelled Avila in between his wolf whistles. “Llevanla — rico!”
For Macias, who owns Charli’s, the festival and El Concilio gave him a path toward starting the business. Six years ago, he joined as a vendor, his first step into selling his refreshments with his family.
Today, both the festival and Macias have grown. As the event draws more attendees and now boasts more than 130 mom-and-pop businesses from across the county, the aguas frescas vendor has expanded, too — selling at 80 to 100 events a year.
Beyond his business accomplishments, Macias said he sees the festival as a “union” between everyone at the festival — from vendors, to organizers and those attending.
“Multicultural … mexicano,” said Macias in Spanish, describing the festival’s appeal. “Besides that, there are a lot of people who bring their kids to have fun. There’s dancing, games … and the entrance is completely free. So it draws a lot of people.”
Maria Quirate, 41, was one of the hundreds of attendees with children in tow. In at least her third year attending, she said the festival also helps teach her children “what it means to be Latino.”
“So that they know our culture,” said Quirate in Spanish, a native of Zacatecas, Mexico, whose children were all born in the U.S. “To teach them about the culture we have.”
The festival concludes on Sunday, following the event’s annual Cinco de Mayo parade, which organizers have called the oldest of its type in the country. The parade this year kicks off at 10 a.m.
