VISTA — It wasn’t actually Cinco de Mayo, but the signs were unmistakable: Norteño music, traditional dance performances, party games and the enticing aroma of Mexican food.

The Townsite Community Partnership’s annual May event, this year called Fiesta VTCP, was held May 3 at the partnership’s headquarters.

In addition to a new name, organizers also wanted to change the meaning behind the celebration. In previous years, the fiesta was billed as Townsite’s Cinco de Mayo Festival, but the event’s planners wanted a name that would encompass the entire community.

“We are really looking to have a community celebration — not solely to celebrate Cinco de Mayo but (also) the resources and the diversity of our community,” Catherine Manis, Townsite Partnership director, said.

“We want it to be a community festival to which everyone’s invited,” said event organizer Jose Jaimes. “We want to make sure everyone knows it does not matter the color of your skin, your language or where you come from. We’re all equal. United we can accomplish more.” Jaimes is also the teacher of the dance group Ballet Folklorico Tierra Caliente, which performed at the fiesta.

Fiesta staffers ranged as far as Fallbrook to generate interest in the event and solicit food donations from the community. In addition to Ballet Folklorico, the partnership secured the services of popular DJ El Chute.

The goal to expand attendance from last year’s 500 to a record of 700 was achieved.

“It’s a lot bigger (than last year). There’s a lot more food and crafts and everything so it’s really nice this year,” said Angelica Ruiz, former Miss Teen Vista.

This was partly due to generous donations from the city. Parks and Recreation staff ran a number of free games that entertained dozens of children. Prizes included model kits and Wave Waterpark tickets.

Ruiz said she was excited to see how many people in the community had come to the event and how much fun they were having. “There’s a lot of different ethnicities. It’s really diverse this year. It’s really nice,” Ruiz said.

The event was also intended to educate. Vista’s crime prevention specialists gave out safety tips while graduates of the new Townsite Leadership Committee registered residents to vote and promoted environmental awareness.

A blood drive, which ran simultaneously with the fiesta, was particularly successful.

“(The Association of Latino Merchants) does it in Escondido all the time, but this is the first time we’ve instituted it at Vista,” said Bill de la Fuentes, event organizer and founder of the North County-based group. “We’ve had very good response. We’ll probably end up with 70 donors.”

All of the fiesta’s proceeds go back into the Townsite Partnership, but the publicity the event generated will potentially be most helpful to the organization.

“By bringing in the whole community, everybody can see what’s going on at Townsite — its programs and its people,” Jaimes said.

“A lot of kids are looking for some kind of connection to something. Usually, a lot of those kids end up heading towards the street,” Jaimes said. “At Vista Townsite, they are able to come and find people willing to help them. It’s like a second home.”