Cinco de Mayo is traditionally a time for parties, festivals and other merriment. But when you're sipping margaritas, eating tacos and listening to the mariachis, do you really know what you're celebrating?
The Cinco de Mayo holiday commemorates Mexico's defeat of French forces on May 5, 1862. In the legendary Battle of Puebla, a Mexican army of 4,500 men faced off against 6,000 well-trained French soldiers. The four-hour battle ended in victory for the Mexican army. This holiday and Mexican Independence Day on Sept. 16 have traditionally been times to celebrate Mexican heritage and culture.
This year, Los Angeles held an early commemoration of the holiday, with the 24-square-block, daylong street festival Fiesta Broadway on April 26. Here are a few other events in cities throughout the United States where you're likely to find those margaritas, tacos, and traditional Mexican music.
Atlanta
The city's largest Hispanic outdoor family festival, Fiesta Atlanta is set for Sunday, May 3, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta. The free festival celebrates Latino culture, music and food. It will feature cuisine from many Latin American countries, arts and crafts, sponsor displays with some free product samples, and continuous live musical performances. For more information, go to fiestaatlanta.com.
Denver
The two-day 22nd annual Celebrate Culture Festival on Saturday and Sunday, May 9 and 10, calls itself the largest Cinco de Mayo celebration in the United States. Civic Center Park will be brimming with Mexican culture -- from arts and crafts to strolling mariachis in addition to several stages of traditional and contemporary Latino entertainment such as Aztec dancers, salsa sounds and Chicano rock music. Plus, of course, lots of food.
Minneapolis/St. Paul
The Cinco de Mayo Fiesta will be held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 2, in District del Sol on St. Paul's West Side. It will feature six blocks of live music and authentic food. There will also be a Lowrider Car Show, a children's area, Cinco Sports Zone, Community Wellness Village, a salsa tasting contest, history area, craft vendors and a Cinco de Mayo Fiesta Parade.
Phoenix
The two-day Cinco de Mayo Festival will be on Saturday, May 2, from 1 p.m. to midnight, and Sunday, May 3, from noon to 10 p.m. at Central and Washington in downtown Phoenix. There will be international and local entertainers, corporate booths, traditional Mexican foods, and a children's play area.
San Diego
Fiesta Old Town Cinco de Mayo is the oldest and largest celebration commemorating the Mexican heritage. This 26th annual free event spans two days, Saturday, May 2, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday, May 3, from 10 am. to 5 p.m. There will be two stages of live entertainment ranging from mariachi music to Latin jazz to flamenco beats. Activities for the kids include panning for gold in an interactive children's area. A mercado will line San Diego Avenue with booths and roving entertainers. A Lowrider Lane will feature tricked-out custom cars. For more information, go to fiestaoldtown.com.
San Marcos, Texas
A Celebration of Culture on Friday, May 1, and Saturday, May 2, at Hays County Civic Center will feature food booths, arts and crafts, a menudo cookoff, parade, folklorico dancers and other entertainment, and a Little Miss Cinco de Mayo Pageant.
Image courtesy of Patricia Marroquin, www.patriciapix.com
