High Springs Sinkhole de Mayo celebration to aid community gardens

While Coronas may be the drink of choice for some Cinco de Mayo celebrators this weekend, High Springs is thirsty for something else: water.

The city’s community gardens, which consist of two separate sites, one downtown next to James Paul Park and the other in the Douglass neighborhood, are over budget because of water usage.

The High Springs City Commission worked out an arrangement with the community gardens director to help alleviate the problem, but water bills have run so high already that extra money will have to be found to cover the cost.

Enter the Sinkhole de Mayo event this weekend.  Now in its fourth year, the celebration fundraiser, which began in 2007, will continue its annual tradition on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in James Paul Park.  Funds raised this weekend at the community gardens Sinkhole de Mayo event will help relieve the burgeoning water bill.

The event is running in conjunction with the Citywide Yard Sale from 8 a.m. to noon and Downtown Daze, which will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Sinkhole de Mayo festivities will include a slow motion bike race around the sinkhole, hosted by the local cycle and eco-enthusiast group the Yellow Bellied Sliders, a salsa contest, and at 2 p.m. there will be a dedication ceremony for the storage shed at the downtown garden.

Entry fee for the bike race is $5 and all proceeds go the community garden program. According to Yellow Bellied Sliders member Tom Hewlett, “No one in this town is as slow as I am,” encouraging all to participate. Bikes will be provided for those who do not have their own.

Prizes for the salsa contest will include gift certificates from local merchants.

Sinkhole de Mayo will also have children’s activities and there will be fresh produce, plants, food, drinks and art for sale.

The event is being co-sponsored by an array of local businesses and several residents, and all proceeds will benefit the High Springs Community Garden program. The program will also accept donations, which can be made in the form of a check payable to the City of High Springs with the reference Community Garden.