Boardman's Cinco de Mayo festival offers family fun

By Tammy Malgesini

The Hermiston Herald

Boardman’s Cinco de Mayo celebration kicks off at 10 a.m. Saturday with a soccer tournament at the Boardman Marina Park.

The festive occasion will be a feast of sights, sounds and smells as entertainment and food vendors will constitute the day’s activities.

The event also will include co-ed volleyball and softball tournaments, a clown show, music, folkloric dancers, a raffle, a talent show and a dance.

The volleyball tournament, which begins at 11 a.m., will accept registrations right up until the first serve. To register in advance, call Paco Velazquez at 720-1978.

Softballers can sign-up in advance by calling Frankie Lezama at 720-8167 or before the first pitch at noon.

Additionally, there will be toy and novelty booths and information booths from the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program, Columbia River Community Health Services, Umatilla-Morrow Alternatives and the Oregon Human Development Corporation.

Raymundo Estrella, aka “El Polvoron,” will delight the crowd with his colorful attire and audience participation during the clown show from 12:30-1:30 p.m.

The yearly raffle includes a 19-inch flat screen TV, two iPods, a barbecue grill, a 20- inch bicycle, two $50 gas cards, a Nintendo DS and a digital camera.

People don’t have to be present to win, but tickets must be purchased before the 6 p.m. drawing. Tickets can be purchased for $1 each from Cinco de Mayo board members, the Boardman Chamber of Commerce or until 6 p.m. at the celebration.

Raffle proceeds will help boost the scholarship fund for North Morrow County graduating seniors.

The annual celebration will welcome back “Los Temerosos,” a mariachi band from Hood River. The group will perform from 1:30-5 p.m. and then a new Boardman group of folkloric dancers will take the stage from 5-5:30 p.m.

Cuatrero will spin the discs to close the day’s events during the annual street dance from 7-10 p.m. There also will be a contest enticing participants to “shake a leg” and display their dancing abilities.

No alcohol will be allowed during the celebration, which is sponsored by the Morrow County Unified Recreation District and local businesses.

“Come join us for a day of music, sports and family fun,” said Carmen Velasco, one of the event’s organizers.

Cinco de Mayo Schedule

? 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Soccer Tournament

? 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Volleyball Tournament

? Noon to 2 p.m. Softball Tournament

? Noon to 12:30 p.m. American & Mexican Flag Salute

? 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. “El Polvoron” Clown Show

? 1:30-5 p.m. Mariachi “Los Temerosos”

? 5-5:30 p.m. Boardman Folkloric Dance Group

? 5:30-6 p.m. Mariachi “Los Temerosos”

? 6-6:30 p.m. Raffle (presence not required)

? 6:30-7 p.m. Talent Show

? 7-10 p.m. Dance with DJ “Cuatrero”

All events are at the Boardman Marina Park