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Cinco de Mayo celebrations all around Fort Myers Beach today

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Raising funds for the Ostego Bay Foundation and Marine Science Center, the Yucatan Beach Stand will host an all-day outdoor Cinco de Mayo bash Tuesday, May 5, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., complete with live entertainment, vendors, games, prizes, raffles and a wild array of authentic Mexican cuisine. Above Yucatan peeps Erica Williams, Raquel Torres, Karen Bove, Nicole Gracco, Curto, Kara Sarros and Kelly Near are decked out and ready for the party. Are you? Photo by VANDY MAJOR.

PARTY AT THE YUCATAN:

Celebrating a wild and crazy Mexican holiday while raising funds for a local cause, the Yucatan Beach Stand is hosting a free, all-day Cinco de Mayo outdoor bash Tuesday, May 5, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Benefiting the local Ostego Bay Foundation and Marine Science Center, the Cinco de Mayo bash will be filled with authentic Mexican food, fun, games and live entertainment.

“I wanted to keep our benefactors for our events not only local but environmental,” said Steve DeAngelis, manager of the Yucatan. “These local non-profits really need our help, and they directly enhance our environment in our little community.”

Steve said the party will be offering the authentic specialities of Mexican culture, displaying a wide variety of food from south of the border: from empanadas and tamales to fresh-baked breads and cakes.

Enjoy the fab fare under the shady covered area with tables and chairs that will be set up, along with a stage and sound system for the immense amounts of live music heard throughout the day.

“We’ll have live music all day inside and outside,” Steve said. “One special guest will be an encore performance from Mike Imbasciani, a 12-year-old guitar phenom.”

Mike was one of the performers during the Yucatan’s Mid-Winter Luau, and Steve said many have been asking when the 12-year-old prodigy was going to return.

Along with Mike’s two-hour gig, live Latino-inspired music will be heard throughout the benefit.

An array of vendors will have a plethora of offerings to Cinco-de-Mayo-celebraters anything from hats, sunglasses, jewelry purses and Beach mementos to authentic Mexican wares, directly from our neighbors to the south.

Jan Miller will also be set up with his traveling photo booth. Get your picture taken in fun, quirky Mexican garb and costumes. And make sure you order a few extra copies, to give to your friends, of course!

Steve said a tequila station will be set up at the event, serving icy-cold margaritas and zero-degree shots of Cuervo Silver, along with Corona, Pacifico and Negro Madelo.

The Mexican jumping bean races

An added element of fun and one of his silly concoctions, Steve will be hosting Mexican jumping bean races during the all-day party.

“For a $1 donation to the Ostego Foundation, you’ll get an authentic Mexican jumping bean to race,” Steve said. “If your bean wins, you’ll get a prize, and everyone keeps their bean. You’ll also get instructions on how to care for your bean. After all, these are living creatures.”

The jumping bean races will be held throughout the day, kicking off around 1:30 p.m.

Parking, dressing up and

becoming part of the fun

As for parking, there are plenty of lots to park in on either side of the restaurant. There are also many parking meters along Old San Carlos Boulevard and the nearby areas, as well as the parking lot at Lynn Hall Park and some other areas nearby.

Remember, there is no charge for the parking meters after 6 p.m.

And Steve encourages all who plan to attend to feel free to dress up and show some Mexican flair. Whether you decide to sport a sombrero, poncho, sarape, quinceanera dress, a couple of maracas or all of the above, get in the spirit of Cinco de Mayo and show the Mexican side of you!

“Feel free to come in costume,” Steve said. “Just like all our events, I recommend to get in the spirit of things and dress up wear a sombrero,” Steve said. “Help us celebrate a Mexican holiday, a traditional Mexican celebration with a Yucatan flair.”

If interested in donating an item to the event, to set up as a vendor during the party or for more info, call Steve at 822-1369.

PARTY AT MATANZAS:

Matanzas will be keeping quite busy with fun events taking place!

Cinco de Mayo will have some beach flair to it Tuesday, May 5, with the fun starting at 11 a.m., full of live entertainment on the Upper Deck, along with drink and appetizer specials, all-day Dos Equis specials ($2.75), a fiesta menu complete with fish or beef tacos, chicken or beef quesadillas and plenty more.

Happy hour will be 3 to 7 p.m. For more info, call Matanzas (414 Crescent St.) at 463-3838.