Celebrate Cinco de Mayo This Weekend in Old Town

OK. First, let's clear things up: Cinco de Mayo is not the celebration of Mexican Independence Day. In fact, it is in celebration of the relatively minor Battle of Puebla, when in 1862, Mexican forces defeated the French Army - like that's any big accomplishment. Anyway, somehow, the day turned into an American celebration, and in turn, co-opted by the alcohol companies into a drinking holiday like St. Patrick's Day and Halloween.

Cynicism aside, San Diego does have Mexican roots (unlike, say, Ohio), and we are the birthplace of San Diego. So, we can justify any sort of Cinco de Mayo festivities, and what better place to do it than at Old Town State Historic Park. The Old Town San Diego Fiesta Cinco de Mayo in historic Old Town San Diego along San Diego Avenue will be held May 5 and 6, 2007. This event is the west coast’s premiere celebration of arts and culture and the signature event of Old Town. The event features music, food, handcrafts and Southern California’s only reenactment of the 1862 Battle of Puebla. The weekend of activities kicks off on Saturday with a traditional Mercado for shoppers and diners, live music and colorful entertainment performed at eight different venues throughout the event. For more details about the Fiesta Cinco de Mayo in Old Town, visit the official website here.

For information about the Cinco de Mayo festival in the Gaslamp ($20), click here for info.