The Cinco de Mayo Festival is back and this year's event takes on a different meaning.
After Operation Metro Surge turned the Twin Cities upside down, Latino businesses on Cesar Chavez Street in St. Paul say this year's Cinco de Mayo festival has a unique feeling.
"I think the people are coming together more with everything that's happened, so I think people are celebrating a little more this year," says Jami Mancha with a Correcaminos Tax and Accounting Services.
Eunice with El Burrito Mercado has the same feeling.
"Yes, this year I feel like we might not have people and everything, but we're hopeful that they actually come here and celebrate Cinco de Mayo and it's just like what we do every day," Eunice adds.
Although some people are still fearful to leave their homes, things are starting to return to what they feel is more "normal," according to Efrain Perez, owner of Don Ponchos Bakery.
"That right now is better than before. Good right now," Perez said.
And they're ready to celebrate, with plenty of activities, food, and music for this year's Cinco De Mayo celebration along St. Paul's West Side.
There will also be a car show and of course a parade on Saturday.
"100%, like the last part of March, even us, we're tax service, we were really dead in January and February with everything going on," Mancha explains. "And kind of like in March when everything kind of let up, we started getting more busy, the neighborhood started getting more people. But the community has really come together very nicely and supported each other."
Visit westsidefiestas.com for more info.
