OYP to hold Cinco de Mayo Block Party Friday
Let the festivities begin! This Friday, from 6-9 p.m., Okmulgee Young Professionals is bringing once again to downtown an event promising family fun – salsa style.
More fun and excitement has been added for this year’s event, to be held on the square in downtown Okmulgee.
The Cinco de Mayo event was envisioned by OYP member Seth Walker in 2021.
“Let’s try to set up a festival or something similar to Chili Fest in the spring,” Walker said. “So we went with Cinco De Mayo. There’s other festivals around that we’ve just recently started seeing…it actually started with the salsa competition, and then we ended up turning it into Cinco de Mayo. We started talking about bringing taco trucks and a beer garden and other stuff like piñatas, games, that kind of stuff that just goes into the Hispanic-type thing.”
If you think you have the best salsa recipe, be sure to enter the salsa competition for just $20. Entries will be competing in two categories – Judges and People’s Choice – where once can win one of three prize levels.
For the salsa competition breakdown, Lane Pilkington of the OYP explained.
“In front of each salsa contestant will be a pickle jar,” he said. “If you like their sauce, you can drop them $1 or $5, $20 – you can put money in every jar if you want. And at the end of the night, whoever has the most money in their jar is the People’s Choice winner and they win 25 percent of the whole pot of every contestant.
“The Judges Choice winner will receive a cutting board that’s laser engraved that says ‘first, second, third place salsa contest.’ Schaudt’s Funeral Service – we’re donating those cutting boards as an award for the Judge’s Choice, and now they will also receive 25 percent of the pot. So 50 percent of all the money from People’s Choice is going back into first place winners on both sides and then the remaining 50 percent, OYP will retain to use for future projects.”
For those that have that salsa tasting palette, tasting kits will be available for $5.
“You’ll pay your $5,” Pilkington said, “and you’ll receive a stamp on your hand that you’ve entered into salsa contests. You can go to each contestant and they’ll have a cup there for you to get your salsa from. We’ll provide you with the chips and napkins through the salsa tasting kit. And you try as much salsa as you want.”
Besides the salsa contest, there will be food by Bocadillos Taco truck, adult and kids piñatas, live music and live DJ, a car show, and Zumba/Salsa dancing.
Drew Santine and Hayden Sharp of State Farm will be sponsoring a raffle for a Solo Stove with accessories, $400 value. The tickets are $5 each or you can get five tickets for $20. Just scan the code (available on the OYP Facebook page) or contact one of the OYP members to enter. There will be a Kids Zone (6-8 p.m.) hosted by Clearview Baptist Church, $4 margaritas from Tavern 56, and Lumberjack Attack is bringing the mechanical bull.
The evening promises a full line-up of good food and fun.
-Here is the event schedule: 5:30 p.m. Salsa registration closed 5:45 p.m. Judges begin sampling 6 p.m. Kids zone, salsa kits, live music, and raffle opens 7:45 p.m. Last call for salsa kits 8 p.m. Kids Zone/mechanical bull closes and adult piñata begins 8:15 p.m. People’s choice voting and donations closed 8:30 p.m. Count and determine winners for judges voting and People’s Choice voting 8:50 p.m. Winners announced -Thanks to the community partners in this event with their donations of the raffle prize, Salsa Contest trophy, event supplies and event entertainment. Partners include Drew Santine State Farm, Hayden Sharp State Farm, Okmulgee Main Street, Tavern 56, Clearview Baptist Church, Lumberjack Attack, Miss Mary’s Market and Schaudt’s Funeral Service.
