We’ve uploaded some of our favorite photos from last year’s Cinco De Mayo celebration to show you what an exciting mix of Mexican music and dance the annual Sister Cities event is like.

Visit our Arts Fiesta photo gallery here

The mariachis didn’t waste much time eating dinner, before they unpacked their musical instruments and began to perform for the party.

While in Springfield, the group will perform at many area elementary schools, at Drury University, and for the big event of Arts Fiesta!, a Cinco De Mayo Celebration of Mexican art, culture, and music. Arts Fiesta! is this Friday night, May 4th in Founder’s Park from 6-9 p.m.

The mariachis will also perform in a marching parade through down Walnut Street at ArtsFest on Saturday, May 5 at 11:30 a.m., proceeding the Artsfest Showwagon Stage for an 30-minute performance starting at 12:30 p.m.

ArtsFiesta!
Friday, May 4, 2012
6-9 p.m. in Founders Park
Jefferson at Water St. in Downtown Springfield

Other performances include visits to many public schools and universities in Springfield including: Rountree, Cowden, Immaculate Conception, Weller, Jeffries, Boyd, and Robberson Elementary Schools, along with Drury University, and a noon on Saturday performance at ArtsFest on Walnut Street.

ArtsFiesta is a Cinco De Mayo celebration of Mexican art, culture, and music.

The 2012 event will feature Mariachi Viva Xalisco, with special guest Sheila Rios, from Springfield’s Sister City, Tlaquepaque, Mexico. Dance performances will be performed by Grupo Libertad, and there will also be children’s activities and concessions.

A full evening of music and fun!

Adults $5
Kids 10 and under Free!

Download an ArtsFiesta Poster here

Sister Cities members also get in free.

The main performance of the mariachis will be at:

ArtsFiesta!
6:30 – 9:30 p.m., Friday, May 6
at Founder’s Park, 330 E. Water St.
in Downtown Springfield

ArtsFiesta! is a celebration of Mexican culture, and will feature an authentic Mariachi band, Mariachi Viva Jalisco, from Springfield’s sister city of Tlaquepaque, Mexico. Festivities also include dance performances by Grupo Latinoamericano from Springfield and Grupo Libertad from Branson. Admission is $3; children 10 and under are free.

Mariachi Viva Jalisco will make several other appearances throughout the week:
Thursday, May 5
Noon—Missouri State University, Plaster Student Union, free
Friday, May 6
Noon—Drury University, Findlay Student Center, free
Saturday, May 7
1 p.m. —Artsfest on Historic Walnut Street, main stage. Artsfest admission is $3 advance; $5 at the gate; kids 5 and younger are free.
9 p.m. —Three 20’s Club, 3005 S. Kansas Expressway, performing with Springfield’s M-Dock, free

Call Springfield Sister Cities Association for more information at 417-864-1191

ArtsFiesta! is a celebration of Mexican culture, and will feature an authentic Mariachi band, Mariachi Viva Jalisco, from Springfield’s sister city of Tlaquepaque, Mexico. Festivities also include dance performances by Grupo Latinoamericano from Springfield and Grupo Libertad from Branson.

Mexican food will be available for purchase, creating an all-around authentic cultural experience of Tlaquepaque, Mexico. Games for children are also included. Admission to ArtsFiesta! is $3; children 10 and under are free. Guests are encouraged to bring a lawn chair to enjoy a full evening of events.

Mariachi Viva Jalisco will make several other appearances throughout the week:

Thursday, May 5

Noon—Missouri State University, Plaster Student Union, free

Friday, May 6

Noon—Drury University, Findlay Student Center, free

Saturday, May 7

1 p.m. —Artsfest on Historic Walnut Street, main stage. Artsfest admission is $3 advance; $5 at the gate; kids 5 and younger are free.
9 p.m. —320’s Club, 3005 S. Kansas Expressway, performing with Springfield’s M-Dock, cover charge

ArtsFiesta! is presented by SSCA; the City of Tlaquepaque, Mexico; American Family Insurance; Empire Bank; and the Springfield-Greene County Park Board.

For more information, media contact: Cindy Jobe, Sister Cities Coordinator, 417-864-1341 or 417-353-6424. Dowload an Artsfiesta! poster in Spanish or English here:

Artsfiesta! 2011 poster in English

Artsfiesta! 2011 poster in Spanish

After being postponed in 2009 until October because of the H1N1 virus and moving to the main stage of Artsfest in 2010, Artsfiesta! will be back in the spotlight on May 6, 2011 on the Founder’s Park stage in downtown Springfield at the corner of Jefferson Avenue and Water Street.

A male mariachi band will be traveling from our sister city in Tlaquepaque, Mexico to perform for the event. Grupo Latinoamericano and Grupo Libertad are local Mexican culture organizations who will perform a variety of colorful and historical dances.

Being back at Founder’s Park will allow these groups more space to perform and for community members attending the event to participate — so put on your dancing shoes, bring the whole family, and join the fun!

ArtsFiesta! – a Cinco De Mayo Celebration of Mexican art, culture, and music
Friday, May 6, 2011 from 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.
330 E. Water Street, at the corner of Jefferson and Water
Founder’s Park – downtown Springfield MO -
Adults $3 – Kids 10 and under Free!

If you missed the lady mariachis playing violins, trumpet and bass guitar as they marched down the center of ArtsFest on historic Walnut Street, you can watch the video here.

The musicians didn’t miss a beat as they walked and smiled at the crowd, picking up more and more followers as they progressed towards the main stage for their noon performance.

At ArtsFiesta! which was held this year at ArtsFest on Historic Walnut Street, musical performances by Mariachi Femenil Nuevo Tecalitlan were alternated with a variety of colorful dances by Springfield’s Grupo Latino.

As always, this organization couldn’t function without all the hard work and infectious energy of our volunteers!

Grupo Latino poses in their revolutionary costumes.

Here’s a short video clip from the event: