Top Cinco De Mayo Events In Colorado
An image from the Cinco-Cinco 5K Run/Walk during the 2015 Northern Colorado Cinco de Mayo Festival (credit: Cinco-Cinco 5K Run/Walk)
Cinco de Mayo is the celebration of the Mexican Army's victory over the French at the Battle of Pueblo. The day is seen as a source of pride honoring heritage and ethnicity of Mexicans and Mexican Americans. Celebrating the Cinco de Mayo holiday has become a huge tradition around the world and enjoyed by many, not just of Mexican heritage. The holiday is usually celebrated with traditional dances performed in lively outfits, musical performances, art shows, and amazing food and drink. Check out this list of where to get the most out of your Cinco de Mayo holiday in Colorado.
28th Annual Cinco de Mayo Festival Denver
Civic Center Park
1560 Broadway #2250
Denver, CO 80202
303-534-8342
www.cincodemayodenver.com
Date: Saturday, May 2 and Sunday, May 3 at 10 a.m.
The Cinco de Mayo Festival Denver is an annual event presented by the Santa Fe Drive Redevelopment Corporation. It is an explosive weekend that kicks off with a colorful parade full of dancing, music and costumes. The parade steps off at Colfax & Welton at 10 a.m. on Saturday, heads through downtown and follows Lincoln to conclude at Civic Center Park and the festival. More than 350 vendors will be in attendance with Latin inspired cuisine, drink, artwork, jewelry and more. The festival features three stages for live music, like Salsa, Norteno, Mariachi and other Latin genres. There is a children's carnival with arts and crafts, face painting, rides and more. The event is free and organizers expect more than 400,000 people for the 28th annual festival.
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El Cinco de Mayo Inc. Annual Ball and Car Show
www.elcincodemayo.org
Hotel Elegante
2886 S. Circle Drive
Colorado Springs, CO 80906
719-576-5900
www.hotelelegante.com
Freedom Financial Services Expo Center
3650 N. Nevada Ave.
Colorado Springs, CO 80907
719-884-4588
www.freedomexpocenter.com
Date: Friday, May 1 at 11:30 a.m. and 7 p.m., Sunday May 3 at 11 a.m.
El Cinco de Mayo Inc. in Colorado Springs really knows how to put on a great event. Their 32nd annual fiesta will provide a weekend full of fun and informative events for the whole family while supporting their scholarship fund. Friday May 1 at 11:30 a.m. kicks off the event with a luncheon sponsored by the El Cinco de Mayo Inc. and the Latino Community Luncheon. The luncheon, hosted at the beautiful Hotel Elegante on Circle Drive, is $40 per person or $400 for a table. There will also be live entertainment from Talisman Trio from Denver. Visit the website to RSVP. After the luncheon, the party continues at 7 p.m. with an exquisite ball at the hotel, featuring live music from Sangre Joven from Las Vegas, New Mexico. Sunday, there is more to come with a car show that features a health fair, live entertainment like Aztec dancers, ballet, live music, a beer garden, silent auction, and plenty of food and specialty vendors. The car show will take place at the Freedom Financial Services Expo Center and starts at 11 a.m. with the opening ceremony.
32nd Annual Cinco de Mayo Festival
Mi Casa Restaurant
600 S. South Park Ave.
Breckenridge, CO 80424
970-453-2071
www.micasabreck.com
Date: Tuesday, May 5, 2015 from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
For a change this Cinco de Mayo, head to mountains in Summit County to the Breckenridge restaurant Mi Casa. The ski season may be over but the party never stops at Mi Casa. The esteemed local restaurant will host the 32nd Annual Cinco de Mayo festival to benefit the Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center. The event takes place Tuesday, May 5 and will include a delicious Mexican buffet, drink deals, silent auction, live music and giveaways. The event takes place from 5 p.m. until 11 p.m., and is $25 for adults and $12 for children 12 years old and younger. Tickets are available at the door.
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2015 Northern Colorado Cinco de Mayo Festival
Northern Aztlan Community Center
112 Willow St.
Fort Collins, CO 80524
970-221-6256
www.fortcollinscincodemayo.com
Date: Saturday, May 2 and Sunday, May 3, 2015 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The Northside Aztlan Community Center and Heritage Park in Fort Collins plays host to a huge Cinco de Mayo festival. This free event has plenty of food for a fun filled weekend packed all into one place. Enjoy scrumptious Mexican inspired cuisine, live music and dance, enlightening exhibits, and kid's activities, like a bounce house and arts and crafts. The organization is always looking for enthusiastic volunteers.
Grand Junction's 35th Annual Cinco de Mayo Celebration
970-216-7332
www.latinangloalliancefoundation.org
Date: Saturday, May 2, 2015 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The Latin Anglo Alliance Foundation in Grand Junction throws an annual Cinco de Mayo festival and it is certainly not to be missed. Previous years have drawn huge crowds, and this year promises to be the same. The alliance provides scholarship funds and sponsors a number of local events. This year's event takes place on Main St. in Grand Junction in between 5th St. and 7th St. The festival features an impressive lineup of entertainment with everything from Zumba dancers, to live music, Folklorico dancers, and a jalapeno eating contest.
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Kristin Mason is a culinary professional and degree-holding chef living in Breckenridge, Colorado. She enjoys traveling and sharing her love of food through her writings. Her experience includes writing for the local Summit Daily News as well as other publications online and in print as a freelance writer. Read more on Examiner.com.
