A mariachi band plays music on the John P. Monahan Plaza Tuesday in celebration of Cinco de Mayo. The St. Thomas Latinos Unidos club and International Student Services put on the festival. (Madeleine Davidson/TommieMedia)
Tommie Mascot dances to the mariachi music. In addition to the live entertainment, passersby enjoyed free food, speakers and games. (Madeleine Davidson/TommieMedia)
A member of the band sings as his bandmates continue to play. Mariachi is a form of folk music from Mexico that traces its origins back to the 18th century. (Madeleine Davidson/TommieMedia)
Corn and other food sits on a table at the celebration. In the United States, Cinco de Mayo is sometimes mistaken to be Mexico’s Independence Day, which is celebrated on Sept. 16. (Madeleine Davidson/TommieMedia)
A member of the mariachi band strums his guitar. Cinco de Mayo is observed to commemorate the Mexican army’s unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. (Madeleine Davidson/TommieMedia)
Students enjoyed corn, other food and games hosted by International Student Services. The event was meant to celebrate the holiday and spread diversity. (Madeleine Davidson/TommieMedia)
People attending the Cinco de Mayo celebration take a break at the tables on the plaza. In Mexico, the day is observed with political speeches and battle reenactments. (Madeleine Davidson/TommieMedia)
Mariachi music filled the John P. Monahan Plaza Tuesday afternoon as the St. Thomas Latinos Unidos club hosted a Cinco de Mayo festival.
Along with a mariachi band, Latinos Unidos, a St. Thomas club that celebrates Latino heritage on campus, and International Student Services provided free food, speakers and games for passersby.
The club’s president, Angel Paucar, said the event was an opportunity to celebrate the holiday and spread diversity.
“A lot of our (members) are from Mexico, and it’s just a great way to help them feel at home,” Paucar said.
Freshman Katie Repka said the celebration also helps show how diverse St. Thomas can be.
“This is really cool to see because it is really important to experience all the different cultures we have on campus because it’s a diverse school,” Repka said.
Eric Bromback can be reached at brom0030@stthomas.edu.