106th Cinco de Mayo event, preparations and new activities to expect

It's bringing the traditional activities along with some new ones. People can expect the festivities to start a little sooner this year.

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The annual Cinco de Mayo event is right around the corner. It’s bringing the traditional activities along with some new ones. People can expect the festivities to start a little sooner this year.Casa de la Cultura is doing a kickoff concert in the Heartland of America Park next weekend, before taking eventgoers back to South Omaha for the traditional celebrations on 24th street the following weekend.Casa de la Cultura’s CEO, Marcos Mora, said the Latino celebration’s theme this year is “familia.”“We really wanted to pay homage to just the family theme that we’re having all year long,” he said, referring to Omaha Mayor Ewing’s city declaring of the ‘Year of the Neighbor.’”The group prepares year-round for this event, and a local business, “Toximiche,” started getting ready this week.“My favorite part is just seeing everybody come together,” Toximiche owner Carlos Hurtado said. “Just sharing the love for the Mexican culture, and I feel like michelada is a huge part of that.”READ MORE: Cinco de Mayo events in Omaha area offer wide variety of things to do and fun for the whole familyThey usually have a stand at the festival and will bring a mobile trailer this year.“This year we did see record low sales for the first time, and it hurt us negatively,” Hurtado said. “But we just kept pushing through, so this Cinco de Mayo festival will definitely help us get back on our feet.”Itzel Lopez with the Latino Economic Development Council said this event is significant to South Omaha, especially given recent tensions in the immigrant community.“People come to support the festival for many reasons, but mainly because this reminds them of home,” she said.READ MORE: Annual Cinco de Mayo festival boosts the local business revenueLopez said last year the event saw a 40 percent increase in revenue for South Omaha businesses, and she hopes that number will grow even more this year.“Extreme economic hardship has taken place in this business district,” she said. “Gatherings like the annual Cinco de Mayo festivities bring hope to businesses.”The Nebraska Department of Economic Development said the North and South Omaha Recovery Grant has invested $110 million to help with business growth during these difficult times.Casa de la Cultura’s Cinco de Mayo festival plans in Omaha. Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |

OMAHA, Neb. —

The annual Cinco de Mayo event is right around the corner. It’s bringing the traditional activities along with some new ones. People can expect the festivities to start a little sooner this year.

Casa de la Cultura is doing a kickoff concert in the Heartland of America Park next weekend, before taking eventgoers back to South Omaha for the traditional celebrations on 24th street the following weekend.

Casa de la Cultura’s CEO, Marcos Mora, said the Latino celebration’s theme this year is “familia.”

“We really wanted to pay homage to just the family theme that we’re having all year long,” he said, referring to Omaha Mayor Ewing’s city declaring of the ‘Year of the Neighbor.’”

The group prepares year-round for this event, and a local business, “Toximiche,” started getting ready this week.

“My favorite part is just seeing everybody come together,” Toximiche owner Carlos Hurtado said. “Just sharing the love for the Mexican culture, and I feel like michelada is a huge part of that.”

They usually have a stand at the festival and will bring a mobile trailer this year.

“This year we did see record low sales for the first time, and it hurt us negatively,” Hurtado said. “But we just kept pushing through, so this Cinco de Mayo festival will definitely help us get back on our feet.”

Itzel Lopez with the Latino Economic Development Council said this event is significant to South Omaha, especially given recent tensions in the immigrant community.

“People come to support the festival for many reasons, but mainly because this reminds them of home,” she said.

Lopez said last year the event saw a 40 percent increase in revenue for South Omaha businesses, and she hopes that number will grow even more this year.

“Extreme economic hardship has taken place in this business district,” she said. “Gatherings like the annual Cinco de Mayo festivities bring hope to businesses.”

The Nebraska Department of Economic Development said the North and South Omaha Recovery Grant has invested $110 million to help with business growth during these difficult times.

Casa de la Cultura’s Cinco de Mayo festival plans in Omaha.

Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.