Around this time of year, residents in Pueblo may feel a kinship to Puebla, Mexico, where, on May 5, 1862, a significant victory was celebrated.
A small Mexican army defeated a larger, better-equipped French force.
Even though Napolean returned the next year with 30,000 troops and invaded Mexico City, the Cinco de Mayo Battle of Puebla stands with pride.
Pueblo’s “Weekend Fiesta” at the Colorado State Fairgrounds is one of the biggest Cinco de Mayo celebrations anywhere.
Festivities begin Friday evening with a dance at the Pueblo Union Depot at 6:30 p.m. Progressive Tejano, oldies, country and Spanish music will be on tap. Tickets are $5.
On Saturday, action will move to the fairgrounds for a 7:30 p.m. party with the El Chicano band, whose Latin jazz style was born in East Los Angeles. Tierra, a rhythm and blues vocal group, will share the stage. Tickets, at $10, are available at the State Fair box office.
May 1 is family day at the fairgrounds, with an early morning start at 6:30 a.m.
Those who want to hit the ground running can take part in a 5-kilometer, 10K or 1.5-mile walk, each of which begins at 7:30 a.m. Race entry fees start at $12. The rest of the day’s activities are free of charge for festivalgoers.
A Catholic Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. before the nonstop festivities begin at 11 a.m.
There’s a chili cook-off contest, children’s amusement park rides, the Guadalupe Dancers’ annual car show, a dance cantina, Hispanic arts and several commercial vendors.
Music and dance fill the afternoon, starting at 1 p.m. in the Creative Arts Building.
Meanwhile, on the Loaf ‘N Jug Pepsi Stage, local Mariachi bands and Folklorico dancers will add Mexican atmosphere. They include Mariachi Arcoiris, made up of local middle and high school students; youth and adult groups of Danzantes de Pueblo, presenting Mexican folk dance and Spanish colonial dance; Mariachi Aquila, with student musicians from the Cesar Chavez Academy in Pueblo; and Grupo Folklorico del Pueblo, performing Mexican and Spanish dances.
A portion of the weekend celebration’s proceeds will benefit the Cultural Alliance of Pueblo.
Lillian Ross is a freelance writer who lives in Howard.
The details
Pueblo is 112 miles south of Denver via Interstate 25.
For more information about Cinco de Mayo activities, call the Colorado State Fair at 719-561-8484.
To purchase tickets for the Friday and Saturday entertainment, call the State Fair box office at 719-404-2070.
