Cinco de Mayo may be a Mexican holiday, but it draws big fiestas across the U.S. Although it’s often mistaken for Mexican Independence Day, Cinco de Mayo actually celebrates the Mexican army defeating the French during the Battle of Puebla. In the U.S., Cinco de Mayo festivals are typically a celebration of Mexican culture, showcasing everything from folklorico dancers and mariachi bands to tequila and tacos.
Here are some of the best picks for festivals celebrating Cinco de Mayo this weekend.
Cinco de Mayo “Celebrate Culture” Festival, Denver, Colo.
This weekend-long celebration kicks off with a parade and includes two days of concerts and dance performances. Other notable events are a green chili cook-off, taco-eating contest and chihuahua races.
San Francisco Cinco de Mayo Festival, San Francisco, Calif.
On May 4, San Francisco’s Delores Park plays host to the annual Cinco de Mayo festival, which features zumba classes, contemporary bands and Mexican folk dancers. Looking for a taste of Mexico? The Hecho in San Francisco celebration on May 5 features unlimited tastings of tequila cocktails and Mexican food, plus hands-on demonstrations where you can make tortillas, salsa and queso fresco.
Cinco de Mayo Phoenix Festival, Phoenix, Ariz.
Downtown Phoenix transforms into family-friendly festival grounds this weekend when local bands and national headliners (including Ozomatli) will perform during the two-day event. Visitors can enjoy traditional Mexican food, free giveaways and dance performances.
Cinco de Mayo Festival, Chicago, Ill.
Chicago’s Cinco de Mayo Festival kicks off Friday, May 3 and runs through Sunday night in the Little Village neighborhood. Other events, including a Cinco de Mayo pub crawl, butcher class and parade, round out the city’s celebrations.
Cinco de Mayo Fiesta, Portland, Ore.
A three-day festival held in Waterfront Park, Portland’s Cinco de Mayo Fiesta includes fireworks, lucha libre competitions, fire dancers and a carnival.
Cinco de Mayo Celebration, San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio’s Cinco de Mayo Celebration in the historic and culturally rich Market Square is a three-day event with concerts, arts and crafts, Mexican fare and other family-friendly activities.
Cinco de Mayo, Reno, Nev.
This annual affair is the largest celebration of Latino heritage in Northern Nevada. Held at the Grand Sierra Resort, the Cinco de Mayo festival includes a parade, carnival rides, dancing horses and a Ms. Cinco de Mayo competition.
(Main image: PaulSteinJC used under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license)
