How to Watch a Cinco De Mayo Parade

As more and more American cities celebrate Cinco de Mayo, more and more Americans have the chance to watch a Cinco de Mayo parade. Even though Cinco de Mayo commemorates the day that a group of Mexican fighters held off ferocious French forces in 1862, Cinco de Mayo today celebrates all things Mexican. It's a show of pride in Mexican heritage and a central part of many Cinco de Mayo celebrations is the parade.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Schedule and map of your local Cinco de Mayo parade route
• Foldable chairs or a blanket or towel
• Water
• Sunscreen
• Hat

1. Check out your town or city's Cinco de Mayo schedule. Celebrations vary and while some communities have reenactments of the Battle of Puebla and mercados (markets), not all have parades.

2. Arrive at least an hour beforehand to scout out a spot. A good idea is to leave some people with the chairs and blankets while others can explore the food and craft vendors that are along the parade route, then switch places.

3. Plan to watch the parade for at least 2 to 3 hours. Cinco de Mayo parades move slowly, particularly with lots of dancers involved, so allow yourself time to relax and enjoy it all. Parades may even stop for Jarabe Tapatío, or the Mexican Hat Dance, which slows down the parade further.

4. Bring the camera along. With a great vantage point, you'll have the chance to watch colorful displays of traditional Mexican dance including baile folklorico and indigenous Mexican dances. Plus you may see examples of traditional colorful Mexican clothing, which vary city to city.

5. Look for the stars of the attraction at Inside-Mexico.com (see Resources below). Cinco de Mayo festivities celebrate the heroics of Ignacio Zaragoza and his men, plus the women who cared for the soldiers. Knowing the background of the Battle of Puebla makes the history more interesting.

Tips & Warnings

• Scout out the route before the big day. In many cities, May is hot month already, so finding a shady spot on the route will make for a more comfortable viewing experience. Some cities' parade routes include prime viewing spots from restaurants, as well.
• Don't bring firecrackers. Many people mistakenly think that Cinco de Mayo is Mexico's Independence Day, similar to the Fourth of July.

Resources

• Inside-Mexico.com to learn about Cinco de Mayo

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