Fiesta Broadway Turns Into Children’s Paradise

Downtown Los Angeles was transformed into a children’s paradise Sunday during the 11th annual Fiesta Broadway, leaving first-time festival-goers Amanda Boczek and Cynthia Carrillo of Van Nuys all smiles.

“We really like the music,” said Cynthia, 7, as she and her 11-year-old best friend held hands, eagerly waiting for their turn to ask a clown to shape pink and blue flower-shaped balloons for them.

Cynthia’s mother, Daisy Garcia, shared their enthusiasm. “I wanted them to see a little bit of Mexican culture. We’re seeing that and a lot more.”

They and thousands of other people packed the daylong celebration, which closed downtown streets roughly from Hill to Main and 11th to 1st streets. Organizers anticipated 500,000 visitors, although police had no crowd estimates Sunday evening.

The festival is billed as the world’s largest free Cinco de Mayo celebration, commemorating the 1862 victory of Mexican forces over French troops in Puebla, Mexico. But children were the focus of this year’s event, as it fell on the date honored as Children’s Day in Mexico and other nations.

Countless booths along the streets closed to traffic offered youngsters helium-inflated balloons to carry. Scores of children lined up for a turn at bouncing, gyrating, Gen-Xer rides; a pen in which to hone their soccer skills, and a giant, inflatable Twister Board on which to play against their friends.

There were more sedentary activities for those seeking respite from the scorching afternoon sun. Eight-year-old Alberto Reyes of Los Angeles found refuge in an arts and crafts tent, where he busily worked on a brown paper mask attached to a Popsicle stick while his parents looked on. “He loves this,” his father, Abraham, said in Spanish, adding that this was the third year he had brought his family to the festival. “It’s like a giant party, with different cultures coming together.”

In one booth, Miriam Carrasquilla of Rosemead, dressed in a festive costume, captured children’s attention with an interactive tale about Children’s Day and Cinco de Mayo. “I have them act it out, not with fighting, but with [expressions on] their faces” she explained of the latter.

The highlight for her 5-year-old daughter, Joanna, was dancing. What sort of dances did she do? “La Paloma,” she shyly replied. “Hat music.”

Many families swayed to merengue sounds as they strolled past dozens of corporate-sponsored marketers offering free samples of everything from Mylanta to Pepsi.

“I really like all these coupons and free stuff; that’s why we come. That and the music,” said Alma Nelson, 29, of Alhambra, pointing to several packed plastic bags affixed to her son Michael’s stroller. The 3-year-old lay inside, tuckered out from kicking a soccer ball at the festival, she said.

Six stages offered 55 mini-concerts, although Nelson, Garcia and others were most excited about the appearance of pop icon Veronica Castro, this year’s queen.

Nelson’s husband, Michael Sr., scrunched his face. “Well, I don’t really like this music,” he conceded, glancing apologetically at his wife. “I prefer rock n’ roll.”