Cinco de Mayo is a time to celebrate. The holiday officially marks the victory of a ragtag Mexican army over the French at the Battle of Puebla -- it's not Mexico's independence day, which is Sept. 16 -- and is now a symbol of Mexican-American unity and pride. It's a time to fiesta, but also to reflect. Here are some events planned around the Valley where you can do both.  * * * * *  The Yakima-Morelia Sister City Association will host its second annual dinner and concert fundraiser, Fiesta en Mayo. The event begins at 6 tonight at The Seasons, 101 N. Naches Ave., with a traditional Mexican dinner provided by Fiesta Foods. Margaritas, wine and beer will also be available. A concert by Bola Suriana follows at 8 p.m. The renowned Mexican folk group performs a blend of Mexican and Latin American folk music with a special emphasis on the distinct styles of traditional music in the group's home state of Michoacán. Tickets cost $50 and include dinner, the concert and one beverage. They are available through The Seasons, 453-1888, www.theseasonsmusicfestival.com, or at the Allied Arts office. Proceeds benefit the Sister City Association, a nonprofit organization that works to promote education, culture, trade and tourism exchanges between the two towns.  * * * * *  Bola Suriana will also perform at 7 p.m. Monday in the concert hall of Central Washington University's Music Education Building, off Alder Street in Ellensburg. The concert is presented by the Sister City Association and Central's Center for Latino and Latin American Studies. For ticket information, call 963-1687.  * * * * *  Today marks the 20th anniversary of Sunnyside's Cinco de Mayo festival, deemed the largest in the state. Festivities begin at noon when more than 150 vendors -- from authentic foods and baked goods, to arts and crafts and various businesses -- take over Sixth Street in downtown Sunnyside. There will also be carnival rides over the weekend. Sunday's parade begins at noon and ends with the charro (Mexican cowboy) contest in Central Park. For more information, call the Sunnyside Chamber of Commerce at 837-5939. Here's the entertainment lineup:  Today, Stage 1 * 3-4 p.m. --DJ Nestor. * 4-4:30 p.m. -- Ballet Titanes de la Salsa. * 4:30-5:30 p.m. -- Los Guerreros de Tierra Cal. * 5:30-6:30 p.m. -- Explosión Michoacana. * 6:30-7:30 p.m. -- Banda perla azteca. * 7:30-8:30 p.m. -- Grupo Fugazz. * 8:30-9:30 p.m. -- Tormenta de Durango.  Saturday, Stage 1 * 1-1:30 p.m. -- DJ Lazzer. * 1:30-2:30 p.m. -- Maldo y Su Grupo Verano. * 2:30-3:30 p.m. -- Luis Manuel y Gpo k-liz. * 3:30-4:30 p.m. -- Hermanos Gonzalez. * 4:30-5:30 p.m. -- Anhelo Norteño. * 5:30-6:30 p.m. -- Banda Centenario. * 7:30-8:30 p.m. -- Titanes de Durando. * 8:30-9:30 p.m. -- Principes del Pacifico.  Saturday, Stage 2 * 1-1:30 p.m. -- Sonido King Master. * 1:30-2:30 p.m. -- Nestor y Sus Amigos. * 2:30-3:30 p.m. -- Grupo Secreto. * 3:30-4:30 p.m. -- El Gigante de Tierra. * 4:30-5:30 p.m. -- Los Chavos Dun Dun. * 5:30-6:30 p.m. -- Farahones del Norte. * 6:30-7:30 p.m. -- Comando Show.  Sunday * Noon-1 p.m. -- Parade  Sunday, Stage 1 * 1-1:30 p.m. -- DJ King master Ivan. * 1:30-2:30 p.m. -- Los Fieles de Sinaloa. * 2:30-3:30 p.m. -- Tropical Azteca. * 3:30-4:30 p.m. -- Mestizo Musical. * 4:30-5:30 p.m. -- Fortaleza de Tierra Caliente. * 5:30-6:30 p.m. -- Organizacion Canarios. * 6:30-7:30 p.m. -- ESK-P Norteño.  Sunday, Stage 2 * 1-2 p.m. -- DJ King Master Efrain. * 2-3 p.m. -- Ritmo 07. * 3-4 p.m. -- Grupo Angel. * 4-5 p.m. -- Los Canarios. * 5-6 p.m. -- Vagabundo Musical. * 6-7 p.m. -- Tormenta de Dgo. * 7-8 p.m. -- Domador de la Sierra.  * * * * *  Yakima's seventh annual Cinco de Mayo Fiesta Grande runs Saturday and Sunday on South Third Street between the Capitol Theatre and the Millennium Arts Plaza. Sponsored by the Yakima Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, there will be music, dancing, the Ms. Cinco de Mayo contest, dancing horses, a car show, food vendors, a beer tent, arts and crafts booths and, for the first time, a parade. Admission is free. For more information, call the Yakima Hispanic Chamber of Commerce at 453-2050. Here's the entertainment lineup:  Saturday * 2-2:30 p.m. -- Welcome Ms. Cinco de Mayo Court, Gloria Hernandez and Maria Garcia. * 2:30-3:30 p.m. -- Los Bailadores del Sol. * 3:30 5:30 p.m. -- Talent Show. * 5:30-6:30 p.m. -- Los Bailadores del Sol. * 6:30 p.m. -- Street dance and karaoke.  Sunday * 10-10:15 a.m. -- Opening ceremony. * 10:15-11 a.m. -- Talent show finalists. * 11-noon -- Mariachis El Sol de America. * 12:15-1 p.m. -- Edelweiss Tanz Gruppe * 1-2 p.m. -- Parade, dancing horses, music by Banda Perla Azteca. * 2-3 p.m. -- Mariachis Sol de America. * 3-3:30 p.m. -- Ms. Cinco de Mayo crowning / talent show finalists prizes. * 3-4 p.m. -- Banda Tierra Mala. * 4-5 p.m. -- Nestor y Sus Amigos. * 5-6 p.m. -- El Gigante de Tierra Caliente. * 6-7 p.m. -- Tormenta de Durango. * 7-7:30 p.m. -- Closing ceremony. Cinco de Mayo is a time to celebrate. The holiday officially marks the victory of a ragtag Mexican army over the French at the Battle of Puebla -- it's not Mexico's independence day, which is Sept. 16 -- and is now a symbol of Mexican-American unity and p ON Magazine, LOCAL

2008-04-28T18:09:49Z

by Kim Nowacki

2008-05-01T18:41:10Z

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2008-05-02T23:12:54Z

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in the Valley 3663 celebrate-cinco-de-mayo-in-the-valley Web Story

ON Magazine

2008-05-02T00:00:00Z

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Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in the Valley published Web Daily

2009-03-20T02:26:06Z