Colorful dresses, spirited music and mouthwatering cuisine comprised this year’s Cinco de Mayo festival in downtown Hayward, as families and local residents gathered to recognize a growing and impacting ethnic population in the city, state and nation.

The city of Hayward honored the Battle of Puebla Saturday with a celebration of Mexican heritage, history and culture, as the 47th annual celebration for the city drew over 500 attendees throughout the seven-hour festival.

Performers as young as three entertained the crowd with exquisite and enchanting traditional Mexican dances, as Mariachi and Norteña music filled the air while dancers twirled large, beautiful skirts, a young boy twirled knives and gentlemen sang to acoustic guitars.

Over 15 booths lined the festival in front of Hayward City Hall, selling local art, clothing, cuisine like tacos ahogados, as well as local politicians aiming to convince voters, as the seven-hour event drew attendees from cities all over the East Bay, saying they appreciated how Hayward hosted the annual party.

“What is tells me is that I am recognized as a member of this community and that I, as a Latin American, add another piece to the beautiful puzzle that is the East Bay and Hayward,” said Hayward resident Ana Ortiz-León.

“I have been coming here with my family since I was about ten years old. Each year it gets better and better,” she said. “The Mexican community in the East Bay, and especially Hayward continues to grow, and it is important that as a community we acknowledge the people who comprise it.”

2010 U.S. Census data cites roughly 40.7 percent of the 144,186 total population in Hayward are Hispanics. Since 2000, there has been a 22.7 percent increase.

Nationally, Latinos are the fastest growing ethnic demographic, currently comprising about 15 percent of the U.S. population, with this figure projected to nearly double to 29 percent by 2050 if current demographic trends continue.

In 2010, Hispanics made up 16.3 percent of the 308,745,538 United States population.

According to Hayward City Councilman Francisco Zermeño, who served as the main emcee for the event, as well as using the festival as a platform to promote his campaign, said Hayward’s festival differs from cities such as San Francisco and San Jose in that it is family oriented and safe, as families can enjoy the festivities without the fear of violence.

Additionally, he said, Hayward respects the Latino community and ensures festivities continues, differing from the city of Oakland where city sponsored events were cancelled due to budget concerns.

“We have a little bit of everything here, as we are truly embracing the cultural diversity present in the city of Hayward. This is a great thing”, said Zermeño. “Here’s a day where we celebrate everything, not just Mexico, but the diversity in culture in general”.

El Día de la Batalla de Puebla, as recognized in Mexico as the Day of the Battle of Puebla, is synonymous with Cinco de Mayo in the United States, as contrary to popular belief, the day is a celebration of the Mexican army’s unlikely victory over French forces in 1862, and not Mexican independence —which is actually celebrated on September 16.

Beginning with France demanding reimbursement after, then-Mexican president Benito Juárez issued a moratorium in which all foreign debt payments would be suspended for two years, France under Napoleon III used the opportunity to try and establish French interests in Latin America.

During the French occupation of Mexico, a resistance grew under the leadership General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín, and as French forces in late 1861 encountered heavy resistance near the city of Puebla, the 4,000 Mexican army amazingly defeated the 8,000 strong French.

The victory at Puebla soon came to symbolize unity and pride, as a David and Goliath of sorts of win for the people of Mexico and Puebla helped establish a sense of nationalism and patriotism, a sentiment which continues today in both the United States and Mexico.

Students at CSU East Bay celebrated Cinco de Mayo on May 3, as the Lambda Theta Phi Fraternity hosted the event alongside a local radio station to be a part of the celebration and bring awareness to local students.

In the end, attendees at the event said they appreciated the cities efforts to hold the event, and acknowledge the Mexican-American community.

“When you understand the history behind the event, it’s easy to see the pride the Mexican people must feel and it’s important to continue educating people on that today,” said San Leandro resident Greg Patterson.

“I have always felt so lucky to live in the Bay Area and especially the East Bay because I get to experience different cultures. Honestly, I feel sorry for people elsewhere, because I get to experience something like this anytime I’d like,” said Patterson.