Denver’s Cinco de Mayo Festival, one of the country’s grandest, has become a public cultural swirl: Symphony boosters mingle with rock en español fans. Local dignitaries bump elbows with community activists.
Organizers expect nearly a half-million people in Civic Center park on Saturday and Sunday for the 18th annual Cinco de Mayo Festival. New attractions include a mini-grand prix track, a mobile recording studio and the Anheuser-Busch Clydesdales.
“We always try to add something new,” said Pauline Madrid-Johnson of NEWSED, the event’s primary sponsor. “This year is no different.”
Cinco de Mayo commemorates the 1862 defeat of French troops by Mexican soldiers at the Battle of Puebla. Often confused with Mexican Independence Day (Sept. 16), this holiday is a nod toward freedom and liberty.
There are more than 190,000 Latinos in Denver, according to 2003 Census statistics, and more than 450,000 overall in the metro area. NEWSED is a Latino-focused community-development organization that also plans the Cinco de Mayo Civil Rights Awards in June and El Grito de la Independencia Festival in September.
The significance of hosting this annual spring fiesta at the steps of city and state government is not lost on festival organizers. “The city of Denver is very diverse and loves the Mexican culture,” Madrid-Johnson said.
Festivities begin at 7 tonight with “Noche de Estrellas,” or “Night of Stars,” a free Colorado Symphony Orchestra concert at the Buell Theatre with Mariachi Internacional de América and Mexican opera soprano Monica Abrego. “We’ve taken this to a new level with a program that’s integrated with music and performers from Mexico,” said Doug Adams, CSO’s president and chief executive.
Although tonight’s concert is free, tickets, available at King Soopers, are necessary.
Activity at Civic Center park starts Friday morning when the first street closures occur along Bannock Street and 14th Avenue. Remaining streets around the park will close Friday night to make room for more than 350 vendors, four live music stages, a carnival and kids’ area with games, rides and contests.
This is one of the few Latino festivals on the 21-city “Clydesdales Across America: Here’s to the Heroes” tour. The famous eight-horse Clydesdale hitch will be set up with a mobile recording station for families to send video messages to relatives in the military.
“There’s always been a high number of minorities in the overseas forces,” Madrid-Johnson said of the value of including the video message station in Cinco de Mayo. “This does impact us.”
Staff writer Elana Ashanti Jefferson can be reached at 303-820-1957 or ejefferson@denverpost.com.
Mexican celebration
18th-annual Cinco de Mayo Festival|Civic Center |10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sunday. Free.
Downtown fest details
Here are some of the major attractions at Denver’s 18th-annual Cinco de Mayo Festival:
The “Celebrate Culture” Parade, produced and broadcast by WB2 and hosted by Tamara Banks and Greg Nieto, begins at 11 a.m. Saturday. The parade starts at 12th and Welton streets and ends at 13th and Lincoln.
Music headliners include Saturday’s Santana-inspired band Wide Open and Sunday’s appearance by local Latin jazz favorites Freddy Rodriguez Jr. & Chilli Willi.
The Budweiser True Music Roadhouse is a three-story, 53-foot-long recording studio complete with instruments and a soundproof booth.
No “Mo” Violence Cultural Dance Group is a troupe founded in the memory of 1993 shooting victim Geronimo “Mo” Maestas. They perform both days.
Jammin’ 92.5 takes over the Miss Cinco de Mayo contest this year. The winner, crowned Saturday, will receive a $2,500 U.S. savings bond, modeling classes, a fitness club membership and – smile! – free teeth whitening.
Interactive attractions during the festival include a Navy F-18 flight simulator, batting cages and the Telemundo Mini Grand Prix, a condensed version of the Denver Grand Prix with mini race cars and professional driver appearances.
The best Mexican food in Denver. Some vendors don traditional costumes and stage elaborate outdoor culinary theatrics.
A traditional mariachi Mass at 10 a.m. Sunday on the KMAS Telemundo stage in the Greek Amphitheater. Led by the Rev. Jorge de los Santos of St. Theresa Church, the service will include the Aztec dance group Tlaloc Danza Azteca.
Civic Center Park boasts one of the country’s largest Cinco de Mayo festivals, but downtown Denver is far from being the only place to celebrate. Here is a selection of Cinco de Mayo happenings in the area.
“Cinco de Mayo de Fringo”|This cultural cornucopia, Boulder style, includes live world beat music, performance art and artist exhibits.|Boulder Theater, 2032 14th St., Boulder| TONIGHT AT 9 |303-786-7030.
“La Fiesta de Mayo”|The Latin American Research and Service Agency (LARASA) combines this Mother’s Day cultural bazaar with the “Pura Pasíon con una Misíon” car show and competition.|Denver Merchandise Mart, I-25 and 58th Avenue|10 A.M. TO 6 P.M. SUNDAY|Free entry and parking.
Music of Early New Mexico|Brenda Romero, an ethnomusicology professor at the University of Colorado, will trace New Mexico’s colonial history through song.|The Dairy Center for the Arts, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder|7:30 TONIGHT |$5-$12; 303-449-9291.
Guitar Giveaway|The Hard Rock Cafe is teaming up with Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar and his Cabo Wabo Reposada Tequila company to give away an autographed Yamaha guitar. No purchase necessary to enter the drawing.|Hard Rock Cafe, 500 16th St.|8-11 TONIGHT |(303) 623-3191.
