Santa Ana : Latino Group Wins OK for 2 Annual Festivals

A Latino organization will stage two large festivals per year in Centennial Park for the next three years under an agreement approved by the City Council this week.

Hispanic Merchandising and Promotions Inc. of Anaheim will operate a Cinco de Mayo Festival and another celebration on Sept. 16, according to city officials. There will be no cost to the taxpayers and the firm will post a bond with the city to cover such costs as police services, maintenance and cleanup.

In the past, the city has co-sponsored the majority of Latino festivals in the park, at Fairview Street and Edinger Avenue, at a cost of up to $60,000. Even events that the city didn’t sponsor wound up costing Santa Ana as much as $5,000. A city report on the festivals noted a “significant increase” in the events and a like increase in complaints from neighbors about parking, noise and traffic problems.

Under the agreement, the only Latino festivals allowed will be the two organized by Hispanic Merchandising and Promotions; a third festival, a Mothers Day concert in May, will be handled by a local newspaper and KMEX-TV. Non-profit groups will still be allowed to participate and operate fund-raising booths, city officials said.