Celebrating 15 Years of Culture, Community, and Legacy

Celebrating 15 Years of Community, Culture, and Celebration

Beginnings: 2010–2012

In 2010, what started as an idea blossomed into a beloved Oklahoma tradition. That year, Fiestas Patrias OKC was first held at the Oklahoma State Fair Park on their opening day, timed to coincide with the bicentennial of Mexico’s independence. The festival was originally called La Independencia de México and brought together local music, folkloric dance, food, and families eager to celebrate heritage with pride.

The festival was created by Robert and Wilmari Ruiz, who organized it through their music company, Enye Music. It quickly became a grassroots success. While the early years featured mostly local and regional acts, the vision for something bigger was already taking shape.

Encouraged by the enthusiastic response, they began imagining a spring companion event.

Establishing Tradition: 2013–2015

In 2013, the festivals entered a new chapter when they moved to Plaza Mayor at the Crossroads, a re-development of the former Crossroads Mall with a mission to uplift Latino culture and commerce. Robert joined the Plaza Mayor team as their Marketing Manager, and this opened the door for the festival to move into a more dynamic, high-capacity venue.

That year, La Independencia de México was renamed Fiestas Patrias OKC, expanding its focus to celebrate independence days across Latin America. A formal partnership with the Mexican Consulate helped establish the Grito ceremony as a hallmark tradition.

The next year, in 2014, the team launched a new springtime sister festival: OKC Cinco de Mayo. While many in the U.S. mistakenly associate Cinco de Mayo with Mexico’s independence, it actually commemorates the Battle of Puebla—a powerful moment of resistance and national pride. Mexico’s true Independence Day is celebrated on September 15, which is why Fiestas Patrias OKC takes place each fall to honor that historic moment. Since Oklahoma City is sister cities with Puebla, Mexico, this celebration carries special significance. Each year, dignitaries and cultural representatives from Puebla are invited to take part, making the OKC Cinco de Mayo Festival one of the most official and culturally authentic celebrations of its kind in the United States.

Plaza Mayor quickly became home to thousands of attendees every year. Both festivals featured local and international performers, folkloric troupes, vendors, pageantry, and lively family activities. From this point forward, both festivals consistently drew 15,000 to 20,000 attendees. During this time period, festival proceeds were reinvested into cultural programming at Plaza Mayor, helping to bring even more music, dance, and family engagement to the community throughout the year.

Building Community Through Celebration: 2016–2018

As the Plaza Mayor era came to a close, the festivals continued with strong momentum and a growing community presence. In 2016, Robert Ruiz began working with Scissortail Community Development Corporation (Scissortail CDC), which began serving as the festivals' fiscal and logistical host. The identity and direction of the festivals remained rooted in Enye Music, and the events continued drawing thousands of attendees especially during the vibrant spring Cinco de Mayo celebrations.

This period also marked the launch of Academia OKC, a free arts education program originally founded under Mariachi Orgullo de América and led by Wilmari Ruiz. The program was brought under Scissortail CDC with the intention of becoming a long-term community initiative. Proceeds from both Fiestas Patrias and OKC Cinco de Mayo were directed toward supporting these educational efforts, offering culturally relevant music and arts experiences to youth at no cost.

In 2017, OKC Cinco de Mayo reached new heights. Held at Plaza Mayor, the event featured a traditional Cabalgata (horseback parade), Lucha Libre wrestling, festive vendors, the crowning of Miss Cinco de Mayo, and high-profile artists like Polo Urias y Su Máquina Norteña. The event reflected a theme of unity and drew tens of thousands from across the region.

A New Chapter in the Park: 2018–2022

In 2018, both Fiestas Patrias OKC and OKC Cinco de Mayo moved to a new home at Wiley Post Park, a beautiful public space with natural surroundings, walking trails, and family-friendly features. The festivals thrived in this new environment welcoming large crowds while offering more room for children’s zones, performances, and community engagement.

Supported fiscally by Scissortail CDC, these years continued the tradition of bringing together culture, food, music, and family. The outdoor setting added a new dimension to the celebrations, allowing them to grow in both scale and accessibility.

Then in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced a pause on large-scale events citywide. But the festival team remained committed to returning. In 2021, as Oklahoma City began to reopen, Cinco de Mayo at Scissortail Park and Fiestas Patrias at Bicentennial Park marked a joyful return to in-person celebrations.

By April 2022, Robert and Wilmari concluded their work with Scissortail CDC. Around that time, Wilmari’s health had begun to decline, making it necessary for her to step away from public work, including the volunteer-led efforts of Academia OKC. Even so, the festivals continued with strength and heart, supported by community partners, loyal audiences, and the same cultural mission that had guided them from the very beginning.

Continuing the Tradition: 2022–2024

In 2022, Robert Ruiz joined Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC), which became the new hosting partner for Fiestas Patrias OKC. The college's southside campus provided a central and welcoming space for the festivals to continue, and OCCC embraced the opportunity to highlight Hispanic heritage through cultural programming.

Over the next three years, the festivals remained a cultural staple.  Attracting over 10,000 people in attendance. The festival featured a Cabalgata, performances from local and international acts, and the Grito de Independencia led by the Consul General of Mexico. OCCC’s President addressed the crowd in Spanish, reinforcing the festival’s value as a community event.

During the OCCC partnership, festival proceeds were reinvested into growing and sustaining the event itself, supporting expanded infrastructure, family areas, and logistics to ensure its continued success.

15 Years of Culture and Looking Ahead: 2025 and Beyond

In 2025, Fiestas Patrias OKC celebrates 15 years of cultural impact. What began at the Fairground’s Bandshell Stage has become one of the largest and most authentic Latino celebrations in the region—recognized by audiences across the U.S. and Latin America for its artistry, diversity, and community-centered approach.

For the first time since its earliest years, the festival will once again be hosted directly under Enye Music, with plans for the organization to also serve as the fiscal agent moving forward.

This transition represents a renewed focus on sustainability, long-term vision, and community ownership. With continued support from local families, businesses, volunteers, and cultural leaders, the festivals are poised to thrive for years to come.

Throughout each chapter of its journey, the festival has embraced new partnerships and growth, always staying true to its spirit of joy, cultural pride, and community connection.

¡Viva la cultura! ¡Viva la comunidad! ¡Viva Oklahoma!