Cinco
de Mayo celebrates the Mexican army’s unlikely victory over the French at the
battle of Puebla. It’s not
Mexico’s Independence Day (September 16th), as some might think, but
it was an important victory that led to their ultimate freedom. No matter its origins, it’s gained a
reputation as the ultimate party day with nonstop fun here in the States. Like any celebration, San Diego likes
to do it right, and we’ve listed some of our favorite Mexican-themed activities
for the next week.
If
ever there’s a time to visit historic Old Town San Diego, it’s this weekend for
the Fiesta Cinco de Mayo. The 32nd
annual free festival, a San Diego tradition since 1983, will be three days (May
1st to the 3rd) of music, food and guaranteed fun. There will be three live music stages,
a low rider car show and equestrian performances. This is a family-friendly event and there will be stagecoach
rides and interactive games for kids to play. Authentic Mexican food as well as ice-cold cervezas and high end tequilas will be available
for purchase.
For
those wanting to celebrate Cinco de Mayo bright and early and in a healthy way,
then the Cinco de Mayo Trail Run in Poway is for you. This is a completely off road 5K, 10K and kids race and the
course will take you along Lake Poway Trail and through the foothills. There will be live entertainment and
Cinco de Mayo-themed fun, as well as food and drinks at the finish line. Tickets start at $10 for children and
$45 for adults and proceeds go towards helping the Valley Elementary Education
Foundation. Registration opens at
6:30am and the first race starts at 7:30am.
We
had to highlight a favorite Mexican restaurant and El Indio was the obvious
choice for us. The world’s first
tortilla machine was made in the basement in the mid-1940s, which increased
production from 30 dozen tortillas per day to 30 dozen tortillas per hour! That isn’t the only invention in this
restaurant’s claim to fame. Story
goes, the taquito was invented here as well. It’s no wonder El Indio has been recognized both locally
(San Diego Magazine, SanDiego.com) and nationally (USA Today, Coastal Living
Magazine). They are also famous
for sending care packages to the armed forces and have even sent food to the
White House. Oh, and we recommend
everything on the menu.
To
honor Cinco de Mayo with cultural flare, stop by Centro Cultural de la Raza, a
cultural arts center focusing on Chicano, Mexican, Indigenous and Latino
arts. Located in beautiful Balboa
Park, the museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from noon to 4:00pm (closed on
Mondays). Ballet Folklorico
dancing classes and educational tours are available for children. The staff is made of volunteers and a
suggested donation is requested, although technically entry is free. Check their calendar on the website, as
they offer diverse classes and special events after hours.
Tickets
are still available for the crowd-pleasing band, Mariachi El Bronx, at the
Belly Up in Solano Beach. Mariachi
El Bronx is a mix of punk rock (emphasis on rock) and classic mariachi music
from Mexico. Their shows get
people moving with their vocal harmonies and classic mariachi style horns. The Los Angeles-based band dresses in
the traditional “charro” (or Mariachi) suit for added flare. Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with an
entertaining mash up of American and Mexican culture. Tickets start at $25.
San
Diego is the perfect city to really soak up Cinco de Mayo. Mission Bay Vacation Rentals is the
perfect home base for you to celebrate the different Cinco de May events around
San Diego. From charity races, to
eating, to rocking out to live music, this Cinco de Mayo will be your best one
yet.
