City gears up for Cinco de Mayo

By Miles Smith
LPR Editor

Get your dancing shoes on, Lockhart, and get ready to celebrate Cinco De Mayo with music, food, games and culture.
Lockhart’s Cinco de Mayo celebration, which will be held downtown May 4-5, is organized annually by the Greater Caldwell County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and will feature two days of live music on a stage that will be stationed at the corner of Market and Main Streets.
New this year: a VIP area that goes for $100 a head through Wednesday and $150 a head after that.
“It gives people a place to sit down and listen to the music. They can stay there all weekend if they want to,” said Bernie Rangel, the Hispanic chamber’s economic development director, who added that the VIP tent would feature an open bar and additional food choices.
Those interested in purchasing VIP tickets can call 512-667-2686 or 512-293-2653.
The event kicks off at 6 p.m. Friday at the same time as downtown Lockhart’s First Friday festivities with food, arts and crafts, a DJ and a carnival. At 7 p.m., the live music begins with K1, a band which features members of the Kumbia Kings. Elida Reyna and Avante will keep the party going from 9 p.m. until midnight.
Food vendors will be open and operating, and an adult beverage booth will stay open at the corner of Market and San Antonio Streets, Rangel said.
The festivities continue on Saturday, May 5 with a 5K/10K run from 8 a.m.-noon.
“We’re excited about the run,” Rangel said. “We’ve got 96 participants registered so far, and most of them are coming from out of town.”
The live music starts up again Saturday evening at 5:30 with Mariachi Los Galvinales. Junction will play at 6:30, Mia Gonzales at 8, and La Fiebre will shut things down from 9-midnight.
Rangel said the event traditionally attracts between 2,800-3,000 people per night each year.
“It’s a great event to let other communities nearby know that there is more to us than just barbecue,” he noted.