Cinco de Mayo fast approaches: this popular celebration is more widely observed in North America by Mexican-Americans than Mexicans, and it's coming the next couple of weeks. To celebrate the bright colors, vivid history and luscious food of Central America, attend any of these best celebrations in the Western US, as seen on TravelNerd.
California
The Golden State houses a handful of the largest and most colorful celebrations. Up in Northern California, the San Francisco Bay Area is comprised of 20% Latino residents, while Los Angeles is home to 40% Latinos. It's no surprise that this massive state has a couple different ways to party for Cinco. In LA, May 5 activities kick off with a Fiest Broadway: 24 city blocks in Downtown near Little Tokyo are closed off to traffic and filled with food and music. For this year's festival, catch Pepe Aguilar and singer Gilberto Glass, as well as others.
In San Francisco, the Mission district's Dolores Park will be the site of SF's Cinco de Mayo festival. The celebration takes strides to be an alcohol-free event that welcomes parents, children and families. The Kids Zone offers arts and crafts, and even a Zumba-thon: an enormous outdoor fitness party.
In Phoenix, a place with definite Mexican influence, one of the best Cinco de Mayo celebrations is held down in this Southwestern states. Several hundred booths and vendors flood Patriots Square Park to sell Mexican-inspired art, food and trinkets. This year, the event aims to rais $100,000 for Arvizu Scholarships, who will award Latino students with financial aid.
An expected half million attendees will come to this weekend-long festival replete with mariachi, street vendors, and sizzling street food. There will be a green chili cook off and taco eating contest, in addition to a carnival-style festival and Chihuahua races.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
