On May 5, residents of all ages gathered at Riverview Park for the City of Lake Station’s second annual Cinco de Mayo fest. This year’s event marked the 162nd anniversary of the victory Mexican forces won against the armies of the French empire in the city of Puebla, Mexico in 1862. The City of Lake Station pulled out all the stops for its celebration this year, providing attendees with a wide variety of food, music, and activities available to its guests. Many of the attendees arrived in their finest cowboy boots and hats, wanting to look their very best for the occasion.
Food trucks Little Red Wagon and El Papirrin served up some delicious meals and snacks. Attendees were also given a wide selection of beverage choices at the beer garden. There was an inflatable life-sized foosball game for children to play on. A vendor sold hats and other articles of clothing at his booth while representatives from Valparaiso University promoted educational programs at their table.
Mayor of Lake Station Bill Carroll considers the Cinco de Mayo event to be beneficial for the community for a number of reasons.
“The Lake Station community is wonderfully diverse and loving,” Carroll said. “Whenever an event like Cinco de Mayo takes place, we make a point of celebrating it with the community. We hope to bring families together today and help them forget about life for a while. I’d like to thank everybody involved in putting this together because I think it’s a great event for the community. It’s a great way to celebrate acceptance, diversity, and inclusion, and that’s what Lake Station is all about. I’m looking forward to hosting many, many more Cinco de Mayo Fests in the future.”
The evening’s entertainment was provided by Mi Gente Entertainment and featured live performances by the bands Grupo Ocho, Banda La Enkantadora, Grupo Sekta, and Los K-Bros. They kept the attendees dancing along to music that fused traditional Mexican music with many other genres. For Carlos Alvarez Aguilera, owner of Mi Gente Entertainment, the day’s event represented more than just a Cinco de Mayo celebration.
“I want to share my culture with the people of Lake Station and the rest of Northwest Indiana,” Alvarez Aguilera said. “My goal is to bring a positive atmosphere to whatever event I am working at. I’m more than happy to lend our services to any city that's willing to collaborate with us and help us further our mission. I appreciate Mayor Bill Carroll for inviting us to come and provide the entertainment for this event. We want to keep developing as a business as we work towards fulfilling our goal.”
Hobart City Attorney Heather McCarthy also made an appearance at the celebration. McCarthy, who is making her bid for Indiana District Three State Representative seat this year, believes that the Cinco de Mayo Fest has an important unifying aspect.
“Our respective cultures may all look a little different from one another, but, at the heart of things, this event is about the Lake Station residents of all backgrounds celebrating with one another,” McCarthy said. “It's about families getting together and enjoying some good food and music. I’m really excited to be here at this wonderful event. It really puts our community’s diversity on full display.”
While some people continued to talk and enjoy the drinks and food, attendees all over the park danced along with the infectious live music. With another successful Cinco de Mayo Fest in the books, one can only wonder what excitement is in store for next year’s celebration.
For more information on the City of Lake Station and its upcoming events, please visit lakestation-in.gov.