Cinco de Mayo celebration set

The area’s Cinco de Mayo celebration is set for Saturday in Shafter, promising to be a great event once again, according to founder Deanna Rodriguez-Root. Root will be doing double duty this year as her and her daughter, Brandi Root, are grand marshals.

The celebration starts at 10 a.m. with the parade. Over 60 entries are scheduled to participate including classic cars, bands, clubs and, of course, the ever-popular horses.

Root said that there will be plenty to do for the entire family. The celebration moves to Mannel Park following the parade, with cars on display, exhibition boxing by the Shafter Boxing Club, games and rides for the kids and a great variety of food and other goods being sold.

There also will be plenty of music entertainment as well, with performances by the Ballet Folklorico Dance Group, also led by Rodriguez-Root. “We are looking forward to a wonderful time and know that there will be a great crowd,” concluded Root.