MARYSVILLE Mucho gracias was the word at Marysville Junior High School last week during the citys first ever Cinco de Mayo festival.
Several hundred people attended what organizers promise will be the first of many annual celebrations to bring community members together, regardless of their race or nationality.
The event was started by a Jessica Tapia, an ninth-grader at the junior high who felt what she described as a growing rift between people of different races and cultures. Free food was provided by several local Mexican restaurants and games, activities and music performances put the spotlight on Mexican culture the day before that countrys annual holiday. The May 4 showcase included the singing and musical performances by Mariachi Infantil Voces de Mexico.
The choir was dressed in matching black outfits featuring elaborate silver embroidery and the chorus of guitars and violins were graced by the stunning vocal chords of a seven-year-old phenom named Ruby Rosario. The Seattle Hill Elementary School student wowed the crowd, belting out a solo with a deep and rich voice. With red bows in her hair and around her neck, Rosario made people drop their chalupas all right, as they were awed by her powerful voice.
Mayra Gomez is a Marysville mother who was there with her two children, eight-year-old Elizabeth and three-year-old Sergio. She works in the cafeteria and was delighted to see so many members of the community turn out to eat, share and learn.
Im glad to see them here, Gomez said. It means a lot, since this is the first time. They can learn something, too, of our culture.
In the gymnasium players capped off the night with the sport known around the world as football but only in the United States as soccer, but first several pinatas were knocked around by kids. The mad scramble for the candy was a terrifying event to watch, but the kids didnt seem to notice, according to Juan Ramirez as he helped his three-year-old daughter Kathy wield the stick. He is a native of Puebla, Mexico and spent 11 years in New York City before making the switch to another coast a year ago.
Its really special for the kids, Ramirez said.
Marysville Mayor Dennis Kendall and Marysville School District translator extraordinaire Ursula Ranke shared a bi-lingual greeting and message that was heavy on levity as they welcomed families. Ranke helps coordinate the education of a diverse student body in the Marysville School District, where 26 languages are spoken.
I would say I was really happy seeing all the smiling faces, especially the ones that put this all together with their thoughts and hearts and action, Ranke said. There is a lot of things I could say the food was great, the environment was warming and nice. There were a lot of ELL (English Language Learners) kids that I work with and their parents that were there. It was a great, great night. I was really happy and satisfied with how it turned out.
Several city council members and school district officials were also on hand to enjoy the chow and fellowship.
I thought it was very successful and a great first hopefully annual event, just really a great celebration of the diversity in Marysville, said city councilwoman Carmen Rasmussen. Plus it was really fun.
A diversity fair was held at the Marysville YMCA the next day; (see the related story), and a cultural exchange fair will be held in the Lakewood High School Commons on Tuesday, May 15th, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. That event will include exchange students from around the world who attend Lakewood, Arlington or Marysville high schools. There will be free food provided by several restaurants. For more information call the Lakewood School District at 360-652-4500.