Riding Show Planned for Cinco de Mayo

A traditional trick riding and roping show will be one of the highlights of this year’s Cinco de Mayo festivities, which begin Thursday.

The riding show, called a jaripeo, is similar to a rodeo and features trick riders who have performed internationally. There will be a jaripeo twice during the four-day Cinco de Mayo Festival that is sponsored by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for Ventura County.

The carnival section of the festival will open at 5 p.m. Thursday at College Park in Oxnard. To commemorate Cinco de Mayo, several dance groups will perform, including Los Kyles de Oaxaco Mexico.

The carnival will remain open Friday, beginning at 5 p.m., but no performances are scheduled. Admission is $3 per day for adults and $2 for the handicapped and seniors. Children under 12 are admitted free, organizers said.

The carnival will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The jaripeo , which costs $12, will be staged at 4 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday.

The weekend portion of the festival also will feature food booths and live entertainment on two stages. Federico Villa will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday on the Amphitheatre Stage and Yolanda Del Rio will perform on the same stage at 7 p.m. Sunday.

Other performances at the festival include the Ballet Folklorico from Hueneme High School from 11:30 a.m. to noon Saturday and the musical group Nuestro performing Latin jazz and salsa beginning at 4:30 p.m. Sunday.

Other events around the county include a five-kilometer race and one-mile fun run sponsored by Oxnard College. The 3.1-mile run around Oxnard College and surrounding streets is scheduled for Saturday at 8 a.m. Entry fees are $15 for the five-kilometer run and $12 for the fun run. Proceeds will be used to help Oxnard College build a training site for World Cup soccer athletes.