Denver police plan to restrict traffic if cruisers cause jams during the Cinco de Mayo holiday weekend that begins tonight.
There is an 11 p.m. curfew for those younger than 18 tonight and Sunday, and a midnight curfew Friday and Saturday. The curfew is in effect until 5 a.m. the following day.
Violators will be issued a ticket and held for their parents or a legal guardian to pick them up at a curfew center, said police spokesman Sonny Jackson.
According to Denver’s curfew law, minors and parents can be issued tickets that each result in fines up to $125 plus court costs.
Police will also be quick to write tickets or make arrests for those who get act dangerously, make too much noise and ruin the good times for others, he said.
“We want people to come downtown to the festival this weekend, have a good time and enjoy Denver and the holiday,” Jackson said. “But our two primary concerns are public safety for everyone involved and the qualify of life for residents in the area. If we have to write some tickets and make some arrests, we’re prepared to do that.”
Though today is technically Cinco de Mayo, the festive Mexican holiday, most revelers are expected to come into town this weekend for Denver’s 24th annual celebration in and around Civic Center Park.
Nearby portions of Bannock Street will close for preparations at 6 a.m. Friday, 14th Street will be closed at 9:30 a.m., downtown areas of Colfax Avenue will close at 6 p.m. and Broadway will be the last to close at 7 p.m..
The fiesta, one of the largest Cinco de Mayo observances in the United States, drew an estimated 400,000 people last year for live entertainment, exhibits and hundreds of vendors and food choices from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free.
A parade is at 10 a.m. Saturday in the area. For the route and other information about the celebration visit .
Each year, Federal Boulevard becomes a destination for “low riders” and other cruisers in an unofficial celebration.
As a result, crossing Federal Boulevard at times will be restricted to several major intersections — Evans, Jewell, Florida, Mississippi, Alameda, Sixth, West 10th avenues and possibly other crossings north of West 20th Avenue, as circumstances warrant.
Some related side streets also could be barricaded and detoured, depending on conditions, according to the traffic plan.
