Cincy Cinco Makes Our Public Square Sparkle

Guest blogger Marcelina Robledo, Manager of Multicultural Arts Initiative, shares her experience from Cincy Cinco 2010.

There are many signs showing spring's arrival and you see these signs all across the region. If you are downtown, you'll see outdoor seating emerging on sidewalks of local restaurants, the Flying Pig Marathon, and Cincy Cinco.

Cincy Cinco started in 2004 and the festivities took place at Coney Island. Last year, the festival moved to its new home on Fountain Square, one of Cincinnati's most popular meeting spaces --- where people come together, day and night all year around. Cincy Cinco celebrates Mexican culture, and all cultures from Latin America.

I always look forward to Cincy Cinco as it reminds me of the vibrancy of my family's roots. The weekend is full of delicious food, toe-tapping music, and lots of dancing. The festival is also a great opportunity to reconnect, share, and enjoy activities with family, friends, and neighbors.

This year, the Fine Arts Fund participated in Cincy Cinco by sponsoring booths. We invited both small and large art organizations from all over our community to participate in the festivities. 

At the booths, people participated by personalizing paper sombreros, breaking the Piñata, and making maracas. The participants were also able to appreciate a Community Canvas, a piece of artwork created by weaving long paper strips into an empty chain-link fence. (The one on display during Cincy Cinco was Diego River's The Tortilla Maker.)

While at the booths, festival-goers had a chance to learn about many different art organizations, what they offer our community, and how they contribute in making our community vibrant.

Despite the threat of rain over the weekend, we all stayed at the festival to enjoy each other's company, fun crafts, live music, and tasty food! I'm already looking forward to Cincy Cinco 2011!