The San Diego Traveler

Cinco de Mayo

by Carole A. Lane on May 1st, 2008

Are you looking for a Cinco de Mayo celebration? In addition to just about every bar and Mexican restaurant in the county, check out these fiestas:

Old Town

Head down to San Diego’s Old Town this weekend (May 3 and 4) for Fiesta Cinco de Mayo, one of the largest Cinco de Mayo celebrations in the U.S. This event features music and entertainment, food, handcrafts and Southern California’s only reenactment of the 1862 Battle of Puebla.

Balboa Park

Set in the Centro Cultural de La Raza in Balboa Park on Saturday (May 3), the Fiesta Poblana is a night of dancing, food, drinks, and music. The night begins with a chicken mole dinner and continues with numerous dance performances about the history of Cinco de Mayo and Chicano culture.

On Sunday (May 4), the Centro Cultural la Raza is throwing a Cinco de Mayo Fiesta featuring the Chingazo Review with San Diego’s Chicano legends Quino, Chunky, and Agua Dulce and performance by the Ballet Folkorico.

Cardiff-by-the-Sea

MiraCosta College will host their own Cinco de Mayo Celebration on Saturday (May 3). The free event will include vendor booths, a kid’s zone, Mexican food, and feature live music by MiraCosta’s Latin Jazz Orchestra, Cuban salsa group Luna Llena, and mariachi band Trio Amigos. MiraCosta’s ballet folklorico will also perform. Food will be sold by El Nopalito, and beer and wine will be sold by the Encinitas Chamber of Commerce.

Chula Vista

Celebrate Mexico’s heritage at downtown Chula Vista’s Festival Cinco de Mayo on Sunday (May 4). Downtown will come alive with authentic food and drink, mariachi music, crafts, a singing and dancing contest, a kid’s fun zone and more.

Del Mar

La Fiesta Del Pueblo will feature live bands including La Arrolladora Banda El Limón, Los Horóscopos de Durango and Collette on Sunday (May 4) at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.

Oceanside

Oceanside will celebrate with Fiesta en la Playa at Oceanside Pier Amphitheater, featuring live music, Mexican food, drinks, and performances. The free event, which usually draws over 50,000, will be held on Sunday (May 4).

Ramona

Create festive tissue paper crafts with the well-known Mexican American artists from Back from Tomboctou on Monday (May 5) at the Ramona Branch Library. This will be followed by a Cinco de Mayo Concert with Jose Smith, the famous Ramona musician and teacher, entertaining on harp, guitar, and other instruments.

Rancho Penasquitos

On Sunday (May 4), the Fiesta de los Penasquitos will be even more focused on family entertainment and activities than it has in the past. The “Fun Zone” which was so popular last year will be returning as well as several other great attractions for the kids. There will also be professional and local musical performances, great food and vendors with valuable products and services.

San Marcos

Celebrate a magical Cinco de Mayo with Rafael and Katia of Mariachi Magic. This program will be in San Marcos Community Center’s Community Hall, on Tuesday (May 6).

Solana Beach

La Colonia Park will be the location for mariachi music, ballet folklorico dancers and authentic Mexican food on Sunday (May 4) at Solana Beach’s Cinco de Mayo Celebration. Children’s activities include a fun jump and piñatas at this alcohol-free celebration.

Vista

A Little Miss Cinco de Mayo Contest (ages 3-12), a blood drive, karaoke singers and ballet folklorico dancers are part of the fiesta at the Vista Townsite Community Center on Saturday (May 3).

Photo credit: Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/obie/485442469/

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POSTED IN: Events, Family Fun, Food & Beverage, Performing Arts - Theater & Dance