Cinco de Mayo is a day for celebrating Mexican culture. The holiday was created to commemorate Mexico’s historic victory over invading French forces on May 5th, 1862, but it has since been transformed into a more general celebration of Mexican heritage. With Colorado’s notable Mexican-American population, you can expect many Cinco de Mayo festivities in and around Boulder. Here are our top suggestions for enjoying the holiday:
The Cinco de Mayo Festival in Denver
The biggest Cinco de Mayo party near Boulder is the Cinco de Mayo “Celebrate Culture” Festival in Denver. The 28th annual celebration takes place the weekend before the holiday, on May 2nd – 3rd from 10-8pm (both days) at Civic Center Park. The popular 2-day festival will feature a parade, various business vendors, delicious food stands, fun contests like the homemade “Salsa Challenge,” live music and dancing. The festival includes performances by local bands Chicano Heat and Dotsero. The event is free and open to the public, with attendance expected to be in the hundreds of thousands.
Longmont Celebrates Cinco de Mayo
If you’re looking for a slightly more intimate festival that is also closer to Boulder, check out the 13th annual Longmont Celebrates Cinco de Mayo. The family-friendly affair takes place on May 2nd, from 11-6pm, at Roosevelt Park in Longmont and is open to all with free admission. The event features live entertainment, fun activities for children, food and retail vendors, a car show, and a Chihuahua beauty contest.
Cinco de Mayo Dining
After the weekend festivities, you can continue the celebration on May 5th by dining at one of the many Mexican and Latin American restaurants in Boulder, like Rio Grande, Tahona, T/aco, or Verde. Additionally, two popular eateries in Downtown Boulder have already announced their exciting Cinco de Mayo events.
Centro is celebrating the holiday with an all-day pig roast on its patio from 11:30-10pm. In addition to roasted pork, Centro will also be serving tacos, tamales, enchiladas, and grilled corn. Drink specials include $15 buckets of Tecate beer and $5 well drinks. However, the $5 margaritas are reserved for guests wearing ponchos or sombreros, so be sure to take advantage of this special.
Aji will also be hosting a Cinco de Mayo party. On Tuesday night the restaurant will offer a menu of traditional Pueblan cuisine and serve free appetizers from 4-9pm. Aji’s drink specials include $5 margaritas and sangria, as well as $3.50 beers.
Whether you’ll be enjoying a delicious meal or attending an outdoor festival, there are many ways to celebrate Mexican-American culture in Boulder and its surrounding areas. Cinco de Mayo is a great time for all Coloradoans to honor the contributions made by Mexicans in our country.