Craig Daily Press

Photo by Hans Hallgren

Leo Landa, 3, competes in a costume contest Saturday at the Cinco De Mayo festival at the Moffat County Fair Grounds.

There’s a purpose more than just having a good time behind the annual Cinco de Mayo festival in Craig, said Summer Laws, executive director of a sponsoring agency, Integrated Community.

“I think it’s something that really lets us celebrate but also to bring people together and find common ground,” Laws said Saturday afternoon as festive activities and music commenced in the background. “It unites us.”

Cinco de Mayo marks a significant historical event, the May 5, 1862 Battle of Puebla in Mexico during which Mexican forces overcame Napoleon Bonaparte’s French army.

Billed as a “small, family event,” Saturday’s five-hour celebration in Craig was the fourth annual gathering for the event.

Much of the celebration mirrored past years — there was a talent show, Mariachi music and vendors selling authentic Mexican foods.

Attendance — between 200 and 300 people visited throughout the day Saturday — also fell within the range of previous celebrations.

However, there was a difference Saturday — the location. Bad weather pushed the event from the Fairgrounds picnic shelter area to the pavilion nearby.

Laws said the switch was beneficial.

“This actually made things a lot easier because the stage was already set up,” she said.

Talent show winners were Kevin Haynes, of Steamboat Springs, in the adult division, and Carina Hernandez, of Craig, in the children’s division.

Haynes signed to a song, Laws said, and Carina sung a song with her father, Tony.

Laws said the Cinco de Mayo festival will be a staple in Craig for years to come.

“I’d say 90 percent of the people here are from Craig,” she said.

“There are some from Steamboat, but yeah, this is a Craig event.”

Maria Martin, Integra­ted Community information program coordinator, said the goal behind the event — bridging the gap between communities — was accomplished Saturday.

“There was more participation from long-term residents this year,” Martin said. “I think people are starting to get the feeling of Cinco de Mayo being a celebration for the whole community, rather than just the Hispanic population.”