Free Cinco de Mayo Celebrations that Are Great for Families

Ballet Folklórico de San Juan Capistrano performs at Fiesta de Mayo Celebration. Photo courtesy of San Clemente Outlets
Ballet Folklórico de San Juan Capistrano performs at Fiesta de Mayo Celebration. Photo courtesy of San Clemente Outlets
4/21/19 - By Toby B

First let's set the record straight: Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day. What the day actually celebrates is an underdog Mexican victory over a French military attack on Puebla, Mexico in 1862. The holiday is mostly observed in Puebla and in Southern California, where there's little mention of the French, but much swinging at piñatas and dancing to mariachis. After all, by the first weekend of May, who needs more excuse than that to revel in the sunshine? Many of the Cinco de Mayo events you'll see advertised are pub crawls, but we've hunted down celebrations the whole family can enjoy.

There are free Cinco de Mayo fests throughout LA and the OC, starting as early as a week before, so get in the spirit to dance, watch parades, and (of course) eat.

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