The City of Shafter will celebrate this Cinco de Mayo holiday with its traditional festival, which returns after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic virus.
Deanna Rodriguez-Root and her committee has put together a festival that promises to be bigger and better than anything they have put together before. This year, the Grand Marshal for the festivities is Shafter native Manuel Garcia.
The day will begin with a colorful and entertaining parade through downtown Shafter. The parade will include dancing horses, antique cars and trucks, and the dance group "Brinco del Chinelo" from Morales, Mexico, with their brightly colored feathered costumes.
The Bakersfield Young Marines will be marching in the parade as well. Their program focuses on leadership, values, teamwork and community service. There also will be several school and student entries, including bands from local schools, as well as groups of students from Redwood, Richland, equoia and Golden Oak. along with the Shafter High School Marching Band.
Los Vaqueros of Kern County, a local bike club, will be on hand, along with the most popular vehicles from the Minter Field Air Museum collection.
After the parade, the fun will continue at Mannel Park. Opening the celebration at the park will be the mariachi group "Oro y Plata."
According to Rodriguez-Root, there will be 18 food booths with many kinds of food, savory to sweet. There also will be over 20 booths with interesting and unique handmade items, toys, information and various products. The Shafter Woman's Club will have a raffle booth to raise funds for
scholarships.
Entertainment will be provided throughout the day. Ballet Folklorico, dance groups and the Moonlighters Band are all in the lineup. A full roster of performers will be on stage all day.
The committee wishes to thank all of their volunteers and the City of Shafter. They also say a special thank you to the supportive sponsors for making this event possible.
Sponsor donations will help the Shafter Cinco de Mayo Committee award annual scholarships to Shafter High School students, and will support school organizations.
The parade kicks off Saturday, April 30, at 10 a.m. down Central Avenue, ending at the park.
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