A giant Cinco de Mayo celebration in Dunedin
Casa Tina's 31st annual Cinco de Mayo Fiesta included a Giant Mojiganga Parade in downtown Dunedin on May 5. The street fiesta included live music, dancing, arts and crafts, and food vendors.
The large puppets are usually handmade by the participants. Staff and friends at Casa Tina’s restaurant are credited for making the majority of the large puppets.
A participant steadies a shaky oversized mask during Casa Tina's 31st annual Cinco de Mayo Fiesta Giant Mojiganga Parade in downtown Dunedin on May 5. The street fiesta included live music, dancing, arts and crafts, and food vendors.
The large puppets rise above the band and parade participants during Casa Tina's 31st annual Cinco de Mayo Fiesta Giant Mojiganga Parade.
Lauren Regan of Clearwater, wearing her Cinco de Mayo mini-sombrero, enjoys a cold brew before the start of the parade during Casa Tina's 31st annual fiesta.
Teresita Quinto of Riverview happily claps to the music of the Madera Sol trio. She was at Casa Tina's 31st annual Cinco de Mayo fiesta with her husband, David Quinto.
Percussionist Miguelito of the Madera Solo Band plays a cajon. The box-shaped percussion instrument, originally from Peru, is played by slapping the front panel. It's sound is similar to a snare and kick drum.
Valentina Sanchez, 15, of Dunedin was the first person to dance when the music began. She "broke the ice" and others from the audience joined in.
When it came to free Salsa dancing lessons, Simone Salsa had audience members, of all age levels up on their feet and dancing in front of the stage during Casa Tina's 31st annual Cinco de Mayo Fiesta.
Parade participants, some in Aztec garb, participated in the Casa Tina's 31st annual Cinco de Mayo Fiesta parade. They were followed by the large, handcrafted puppets during the Giant Mojiganga Parade.
Parade participants carry their homemade puppets into John R. Lawrence Pioneer Park from Main Street at Casa Tina's 31st annual Cinco de Mayo Fiesta.
A little girl carries a Casa Tina banner while participating in the Giant Mojiganga Parade.
Parade spectators watch as parade participants hold onto their Pastorelas, large wooden masks representing the devil who are portrayed humorously in the parade.
A large handmade leopard follows a bunny's head in the Giant Mojiganga Parade during the parade.
Daniel Prather, left, of Dunedin was one-third of the large puppet that towered over paradegoers. The staff and friends of Casa Tina hand made the oversized puppets.
At the end of the Giant Mojiganga Parade, participants lined up in front of the stage during fiesta.
Music, dancing, ethnic food and fun was the main ingredient at the fiesta.
Francesca Herbers, 3, munches on a snack as she watches the audience participants dancing to the music, accompanying the Grupo Folklórico Mahetzi. Francesca is visiting her grandparents, Flo and Bob Meyer of Dunedin.
Members of the Grupo Folklorico Mahetzi perform on stage as part of the continuous performances at the fiesta.
For hungry fiesta-goers who didn't want to eat inside Casa Tina, the restaurant had food vending tents set up outdoors within John R. Lawrence Pioneer Park.
Mexican ballet dancers of Grupo Folklorico Mahetzi perform a dance called La Bruja, a dance that pays homage to ancestors. Here, one of those dancers keeps a steady balance on a lit candle atop of her head.
A performer with the Grupo Folklorico Mahetzi makes a sweeping entrance on stage prior to the dancing troupe performance at the Casa Tina's 31st Annual Cinco de Mayo Fiesta.
A little girl participates in the Giant Mojiganga Parade, where some of the large puppets were taller than parade participants.
Watching the festivities from Douglas Avenue and Main Street, Richard Sisbarro of Dunedin wasn't fooling anyone while he wore two hats to Casa Tina's 31st annual Cinco de Mayo Fiesta. Underneath his black and gold sombrero was his University of Miami ballcap.
Two-year old Cole Santos watches as his dad, Nick Santos of Clearwater, makes a video as the Madera Sol trio plays Latin American folk music for those wanting to dance in front of the stage in John R. Lawrence Pioneer Park
What else would Cindy Flora of Clearwater wear to a Cinco de Mayo Fiesta, but a floral headdress. She and her husband, Tom Flora, had a good seat under a twinkling tree in John R. Lawrence Pioneer Park.
Recognizing a familiar face in the crowd, Ciri Torentino, a violinist for Trio Potencia, wells up a big smile, seeing friends at the fiesta.
Orquesta Infinidad, a 12-piece Salsa Band, was the final entertainment for the evening. The band was among the bands that provided the live performances. The orchestra went on after the Giant Mojiganga Parade.
Waiting to go on stage with other members of the Grupo Folklórico Mahetzi, a Mexican ballerina fans herself in the warmth of the day.
Ollie, a 6-year-old toy poodle, goes with the flow while along for a dance with his owner, Jennifer Ryan of Dunedin. Ryan was participating in the Simone Salsa free Salsa lessons in front of the stage in John R. Lawrence Pioneer Park.
