El Centro NW has partnered with the Liberty Theatre to present Grupo de Danza Folklorica Mestizo. The event featuring dance and music at the theater in Astoria will be 7 p.m. May 4. 

Celebrating Mexican heritage will be Oregon-based Panchito Aguirre and the Mariachi Chapala. The group was formed in 2008 by its director Franciso Aguirre and features members from Seaside and Portland.

Admission is free but voluntary donations will raise funds for El Centro NW, a local nonprofit dedicated to serving the Latino communities of Clatsop and Pacific counties, whose efforts focus on promoting education and cultural heritage. One of its proudest initiatives is Mestizo, its own folklórico dance group.

Rocío Lizárraga Simmons, a member of the board of Directors of El Centro NW, invites the community to attend. “In addition to the performances, a short video presentation will highlight the historical significance of Cinco de Mayo and explore its lasting impact on Mexican American culture today,” he said.