The calendar said May 7, but the Cinco de Mayo spirit held forth in downtown Denver on Saturday, moving to Federal Boulevard as night fell.
“It’s ‘We Love Mexicans Day’ in Denver,” joked Hilario Sanchez, 19, of Thornton, chomping on a turkey leg as he stood amid booths offering more traditional Mexican fare in Civic Center.
Celebrating heritage and preserving culture has never been more important, said Marlenne Hernandez, a choreographer and owner of an Aurora dance studio.
“We have second-generation children in this country who can’t even speak Spanish,” she said, as a dozen of her preteen dancers from Ballet Folklorico Estampas y Coloridos de Mexico twirled on stage.
Hernandez moved four years ago from Mexico City to raise her family away from the violence in the Mexican capital.
Her 9-year-old son, Issaid, stood nearby, wearing a black mariachi costume. His mom persuaded him to try dancing just five months ago.
“It’s fun,” he said, “and it teaches you about the traditions of Mexico.”
Bill Burns hawked miniature flags along the Cinco de Mayo parade route on Broadway. Mexican flags were outselling the American version at least six to one, he said.
Stores, airlines and cellphone companies had booths and barkers attracting attention to their products.
Cinco de Mayo commemorates Mexicans’ victory over the French army at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, and it has grown into a celebration of Mexican heritage and culture.
But Saturday was even more than that in Colorado, said this year’s Miss Cinco de Mayo, Jessica Martinez, a 22-year-old college student from Aurora.
“It’s about the coming together of families and people who share a culture,” said Martinez, wearing a tiara and sash as she toted a dozen red roses befitting her title.
By Saturday evening, Federal Boulevard swelled with cars draped with flags, some blaring music so loud the street vibrated.
By 9 p.m., the street had become a Mexican celebration on wheels from 52nd Street south to Evans. Traffic was bumper to bumper.
Arnulfo Gutierrez, 42, set a stereo under a blue tarp in the parking lot of a Mexican market and blasted music from 5-foot-high speakers.
He regretted that police would order him to turn it down at 8 p.m.
“It’s not very fun, but we have to follow the rules,” Gutierrez said.
Police reported no major problems late Saturday night.
Antonio Fernandez, 29, was mounting a huge Mexican flag on the hood of his white 1999 Jeep Cherokee.
“It’s a lot of fun,” he said. “I like seeing all the people. We have a lot of pride today.”
Ricardo Quintana, 24, and Mario Sarmiento, 22, looked the part of mariachis, wearing sombreros and playing an accordion and a guitar.
But, the pair admitted, they were only lip-syncing Mexican ballads as they tried to impress the women driving by.
As one car passed, several women inside smiled at the duo, waving enthusiastically. Sarmiento was all grins.
“See,” he said. “It works.”
Staff writer Joey Bunch can be reached at 303-820-1174 or jbunch@denverpost.com.
