Whether you’re looking to get your mind off of school or work or want to enjoy a meal made from scratch, Mercado on Fifth will provide an opportunity to explore a variety of small businesses in a colorful carnival-like environment.  

Mercado on Fifth is a series of outdoor events that take place each Friday, lasting from May until the beginning of October. These “mercados,” or markets, feature food vendors, small businesses and live entertainment, accessible after a five dollar entry fee. 

Friday, Sept. 28, people of many cultures gathered together in downtown Moline to celebrate diversity and enjoy an environment full of food and performances. At the Mercado, people danced along to the different kinds of music and kids ran around freely.

Juan Carlos Verduzco López, an owner of Creative Pastry and Coffee at the Mercado, explains that on top of having his own business, the thing that he enjoys the most is meeting new people from all over the continent.  

“Many people come from many countries, and there is coexistence between Latinos and other people as well,” López said.

On top of offering fun and engaging entertainment, the Mercado is a safe place where groups of people come together.

Senior Odalis Zapata-Martinez, a member of the Office of Student Life programming board, said the Mercado feels like a safe space. 

“It’s a different vibe. I think I feel very safe,” Zapata-Martinez said. “I don’t feel weird, and I think that is because it’s family-oriented.”

Mercado is also a place full of opportunities. It is the perfect place for those interested in becoming entrepreneurs.

Saul Diaz Sandoval, the owner of Aguas Frescas, has witnessed the opportunities the Mercado has given people. Sandoval said the impact that the Mercado has had on other small businesses as well as his own has been huge.

“The best thing is seeing small businesses go from being small to becoming their own big companies,” Sandoval said. 

It is no secret that the success of the Mercado comes from the endless support of the community, but also from big company sponsors who donate their money and give small businesses the opportunity to grow. 

“Last year, the first Mercado season was sponsored by John Deere,” Zapata-Martinez said. 

More than a market, Mercado on Fifth is a family friendly event where people learn to embrace their culture and learn from other cultures as well.

“Kids who do not know much of their culture have the opportunity to explore and learn something about it,” Verduzco López said.

The Mercado is a place for connection and family strengthening. This event brings people together as much as it helps the community grow. 

Noelia Avila, a First-Year student, said the Mercado is significant to herself and her family, and said that she hasn’t missed a single event.

“The Mercado is a great place to reunite with family members and friends that you don’t see on the usual basis,” Avila said. 

Mercado on Fifth is an outdoor event that lasts from May until the beginning of October. Although most of their events took place over the summer, they are preparing to host their annual Day of the Dead parade on Oct. 28. Their Day of the Dead event provides an opportunity for Augustana students to join the community in a celebration that honors the lives of those who have passed and celebrates the meaning of their own lives. 

There are two events remaining before the Day of the Dead event; today and next Friday from 5:00pm-10:00pm.