Cinco de Mayo celebrates 25 years at Mi Casa fiesta

Annual celebration acts as a fundraiser for the Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center

Click to Enlarge Browse and Buy Summit Daily Photos Mi Casa bartender Justin Hanson will pour lots of Margaritas during the BOEC Cinco de Mayo fundraiser today from 5-9 in Breckenridge. Summit Daily/Eric Drummond Get News Feeds

BY ASHLEY DICKSON
summit daily news
Summit County, CO Colorado
May 4, 2008

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Cinco de Mayo Celebration at Mi Casa
$20 for adults and $12 for kids under 12
All you can east Mexican buffet and silent auction from 5-9 p.m.
Live music from Doc PJ & The 3 Amigos from 8:30-11 p.m.
Happy Hour drink prices from 9-11 p.m.


BRECKENRIDGE — Back in 1983 the owners of Mi Casa Mexican Restaurant and Cantina in Breckenridge decided to spice up the normally slower spring season with a fundraising party to benefit the Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center (BOEC).

Fast forward 25 years and the annual party has raised over $275,000 for the BOEC, and has become an annual event that many locals rarely miss.

“When you think of Cinco de Mayo you think of Mi Casa, it’s just become natural,” said manager Tracey Roach, who helps organize the annual event.

The celebration at Mi Casa includes a sprawling buffet, live music and a silent auction, with 100 percent of the proceeds going directly toward the BOEC.

“Each year we try to set a goal of raising $20,000,” said Roach. “But this being the 25th anniversary we are going to shoot for $25,000.”

According to Bruce Fitch, executive director at the BOEC, the money raised at the Cinco de Mayo celebration goes directly toward funding outdoor programs geared toward those with special needs.

“The money raised at Mi Casa helps keep the tuition low for our Adaptive Ski and Ride Program and our wilderness activities like rafting and backpacking,” said Fitch.

“We’ve come to depend on the fundraiser and Mi Casa comes through and provides everything.”

Proceeds from this year’s event will also partially benefit the Willie Whalen Memorial Fund, in memory of a BOEC Adaptive Ski Instructor who tragically died in 2005.

As one of the more highlighted parts of the event, the silent auction has grown over the years to include donated good and services from local businesses as well as a $500 travel voucher to Mexico.

“The silent auction has definitely grown over the years,” said manager Julie Ludwig. “Our first year we had two tables with items and now we have about 20.”

Many local business have come to expect calls from Ludwig and Roach in the beginning of May, and most become accustom to donating something year after year.

“We’ve been doing this for 25 years so we have a pretty good system when it comes time to round up things for the auction,” said Ludwig.

“It’s the big locals event of the year, and business are always ready to participate.”

Live music is always a staple at the Cinco de Mayo party, and this year Doc PJ and The 3 Amigos will be performing as the blenders behind the bar mixing up a variety of flavored margaritas.

“When people think of Cinco de Mayo they think of margaritas and celebration,” said Roach.

“The party is a great way to break up mud season and it comes during a time when there aren’t that many other events happening in the area.”

Ashley Dickson can be reached at (970) 668-4629, or at adickson@summitdaily.com.