Bad weather doesn't stop Passaic's Cinco de Mayo festivities

PASSAIC — Bad weather may have stopped their parade, but it wasn't enough to stop the community from celebrating Cinco de Mayo with music, dance and food. 

In fact, the weather was almost fitting, as it is rumored that it was also raining during the Mexican Army's victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, said Mayor Hector Lora.

"The fact people came out regardless of the weather for something they want to celebrate really speaks to the resilience of our community," Lora said.

Over 200 people braved the rain to watch Baile Folklorico Raíces Mexicanas perform traditional Mexican dancing, eat from local Mexican food vendors and listen to a Mariachi band perform at a street renaming ceremony Sunday morning. A plaza on First Street on the corner of Dayton and Monroe avenues was officially dubbed “Garibaldi Plaza.”

A parade was supposed to follow the renaming ceremony, but worries about rain damaging elaborate festive clothing put the plan at a standstill. 

The real Garibaldi Plaza, located in Mexico City, is famous for being the home of Mariachi band performances. Similarly, officials hope the plaza becomes a gathering place for the community to hold various events, including art shows, farmers' markets and music performances.

The Garibaldi Plaza moniker also serves as a way to honor the city's growing Mexican community, Lora said. It's estimated that 30 percent of residents are of Mexican heritage. 

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While political messages and television may make young children in the Mexican community feel unwelcome, the dedication of Garibaldi Plaza aims to tell these children that they do belong, Lora said.

"Our city, our state, belongs to everyone," he said. "I think this act of inclusion really pushes forth that." 

Amy Serrano, 16, dressed in a festive black china poblana Mexican dress, was the official "parade princess" of the day. Although the parade itself did not take place, she still was able to enjoy the day with her community during the festivities at the plaza. 

"It felt good. It's truly something special to me to be a part of this," Serrano said. 

Genaro Delgado, a resident who worked on a committee with local Mexican business owners on the ceremony, hopes the newly renamed plaza, an area of the city that Lora and others have worked to clean up in recent years, will give children a place to hang out and stay off the streets. He said he would love to see a festival take place where children learn how to play an instrument.

“We have to keep the kids safe,” Delgado said. “That’s my goal. We have to keep the kids out of trouble.”