SHAFTER, Calif. — Shafter is celebrating Cinco de Mayo early. Saturday is their 28th annual Cinco de Mayo parade and festival. It is one of the longest running Cinco de Mayo celebrations in Kern County.
Organizers say the celebration started as a street festival put on by a husband and wife team. Now 28 years later it has blossomed into a parade and festival complete with mini carnival and live entertainment.
The celebration is scheduled to start in the Shafter city center at 10 a.m. with a parade. The parade route is expected to finish at Mannel Park at 11 a.m. The celebration is expected to continue at Mannel Park until 8 p.m.
Jose Chavez, who’s on the Shafter Cinco de Mayo committee, says, there will be vendors in Mannel Park. And most of the proceeds from the vendors will stay local to benefit the community, including going towards a scholarship for local high school students.
