CANYON COUNTY, Idaho — Communities across Canyon County came together on Tuesday to celebrate Cinco de Mayo with music, dancing, food and cultural reflection in both Nampa and Caldwell.
In Nampa, families gathered at the Idaho Hispanic Community Center to enjoy live performances, local vendors and art displays highlighting Latino heritage.
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But organizers say Cinco de Mayo is often misunderstood.
“They are the classic underdog story of wanting to come together and do something,” explained Mari Ramos, Executive Director of the Idaho Hispanic Foundation.
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The holiday commemorates the 1862 Battle of Puebla, when a small, under-resourced Mexican force defeated the French army, one of the most powerful military forces in the world at the time.
"They were scrappy, and they were united, and they beat them," Ramos detailed.
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Ramos added that the message of resilience continues to resonate today, especially in Idaho, where the Hispanic population continues to grow.
“A pretty big population here in Nampa, where we are headquartered—it’s 1 in 4 people are of Hispanic descent,” Ramos said, “What we need to do is remember that our cultural differences are what makes our community stronger and better and more beautiful.”
Next door, in Caldwell at Indian Creek Plaza, live music, vendors and traditional foods brought the community together throughout the evening.
For Sonia Ibarra, National American Miss Idaho 2025, attending celebrations across Canyon County was about representation and pride in her heritage.
“As a first-generation Latina, it’s important to be here—not only representing young women, but everyone in my community,” Ibarra said.
She added that preserving culture is especially important for future generations.
“Nowadays I feel like culture is slowly kind of dying off for certain communities,” she remarked, “I think it’s important to keep it alive and continue teaching our youth the importance of our legacy and our history.”
Organizers say events like these are meant to celebrate culture while bringing communities together across Canyon County.
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