Cinco de Mayo was celebrated early at Sacramento State on Thursday, featuring native dancing, music and food.

Hosted by UNIQUE and the Multicultural Center, Serna Plaza was where the Mariachi Jalisco, the Aztec dance group Kalpulli Itz Kuauhtli, and the Roseville High School folkloric dance program Grupo Adelante performed.

Cinco de Mayo was a community-building event, according to Heather Arbuckle, program coordinator of the Multicultural Center.

Arbuckle wanted to fill the gap between students and the Multicultural Center by using the center’s resources to show a broader view of different cultures.

“We wanted to open the campus community up to different and underrepresented cultures,” Arbuckle said.

Every aspect of the event was planned by the students, Arbuckle said. The students contacted all of the groups who performed, Arbuckle said, and negotiated the price and contracts for the groups.

“The students were very vital to the success of the event,” Arbuckle said.

Junior Jose Cupres, a business major, watched the performances and said it was good to put on these types of events to show the campus the different types of cultures in the community.

“There are different cultures on campus,” Cupres said. “Why not get to know your classmates?”

Another goal of the event was to clear up the misconception that Cinco de Mayo is Mexican Independence Day, said Edgar Camacho, volunteer for the Multicultural Center.

“We want to emphasize in trying to educate the community of what Cinco de Mayo really is,” Camacho said.

Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican holiday, which is celebrated in the U.S. as well as Mexico, that commemorates the victory of when General Ignacio Zaragoza led Mexican forces over the French expeditionary forces in the Battle of Pueblo on May 5, 1862.

Matthew Beltran can be reached at [email protected]