THE 52627

Community Celebrates Cinco de Mayo Early

Downtown Fort Madison street filled with heritage and dancing

La Fiesta Dance Troupe's dancer, Sophia Daman, kicks off the festival.

Stephanie Hoemmen

Zoe Ramatowski bites into a burrito from the Jalapeño Express food truck.

Stephanie Hoemmen

Chi Eastin announces for everyone to following the La Fiesta Dance Troupe on Facebook with Izzy Hind, the troupe's coach.

Stephanie Hoemmen

Lyra Martin-Vega hits one of the piñatas at the second annual Cinco de Mayo festival.

Stephanie Hoemmen

Lillian Rudd's daughter, Adaira, enjoying the inflatables.

Stephanie Hoemmen

Juliana Martinez and her team at La Reyna International Store.

Stephanie Hoemmen

Members of The Brotherhood perform at the second annual Cinco de Mayo festival.

Stephanie Hoemmen

A couple dances on the downtown street during the Cinco de Mayo festival.

Stephanie Hoemmen

Posted Sunday, May 3, 2026 9:02 am

GROWING EVENT

The Cinco de Mayo event is growing; this is our second year performing. I love seeing the people enjoy our music while we perform.”

Sal Gonzalez, The Brotherhood band leader

By Stephanie Hoemmen, Creator of 52627

FORT MADISON - Fort Madison hosted its second annual Cinco de Mayo celebration on Saturday, May 2.
This event celebrates the Mexican heritage and history that helped build our town. This colorful event created space for kids to participate in activities while celebrating the cultures that make up Fort Madison and beyond.
Lillian Rudd and her daughter, Adaira, got food from Jalapeno Express and stayed for fun.
“I feel like it’s a very fun, family atmosphere. There are a lot of great things to do and a lot of activities for the kids, which parents always love,” Rudd said.
Fort Madison is Iowa’s oldest mexican community. Our town is honored with this title due to the Sante Fe Railroad workers, or traqueros, who built their home here.
The local community got the opportunity to enjoy our local La Fiesta Dance Troupe perform in the afternoon. Kids threw Nerf axes, shot Nerf bows, played mini golf, and jumped in the bounce house.
Multiple vendors filled the Avenue G block.
Juliana Martinez, owner of La Reyna International Store, participated for the first time this year.

“I opened the store last July and love the experience of owning this business and how close the community is. I hope people have an appreciation for the music and treats of our culture. Come and visit our Burlington store,” she said.
Live music filled the downtown 600 block of Avenue G from The Brotherhood. The leader of the band, Sal Gonzalez, has been playing music on and off for the last 63 years. The Brotherhood band has existed for the last eight years. The band, made up of thirteen members, wants to grow a tradition that people can feel they are a part of.
“The Cinco de Mayo event is growing; this is our second year performing. I love seeing the people enjoy our music while we perform,” Gonzalez said. He was pleased with the turn out for this year’s event and plans for it to continue to grow.
Event organizer Chi Eastin said that last year they started off small.
“We are trying to continue to highlight Fort Madison’s Mexican heritage, " said Eastin.
The block was filled with street fair fun, smiling children, fun music, and good food.
“We expanded to Avenue G to include more vendors, food, kid play areas, and dancing,” she said.
To learn more about Fort Madison Mexican Heritage and how you can show support in this community, please check out this page: https://www.visitfortmadison.com/hechoenfortmadison.

Keywords

Pen City Current, the 52627, Fort Madison, Visit Fort Madison, Cinco de Mayo, Mexican Heritage, history, culture celebration, festival, Chi Eastin, La Fiesta Dance Troupe, news, spotlight, feature, Stephanie Hoemmen