Cinco de Mayo is becoming an increasingly popular day to celebrate Mexican culture and heritage, with dances, parades and other activities taking place in many cities across the country.
History of Cinco De Mayo
Cinco de Mayo commemorates Mexico’s victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. But for most Americans, Cinco de Mayo is simply a time to celebrate Mexican culture. There are growing numbers of Cinco de Mayo festivals across the country, and many of them have campgrounds nearby that can be used as convenient base camps for these events.
An Overview of Cinco de Mayo Festivals
These include Manatee County, Florida's Annual Taco Fest in Palmetto, which is close to several campgrounds, including Encore Terra Ceia RV Resort, Fisherman's Cove RV Resort, The Surf RV Resort, and The Tides RV Resort.
Denver, Colorado's Annual Cinco de Mayo Festival has been a tradition for more than three decades with a parade and live entertainment from morning to night with several genres of Latin music, including Mariachi, Salsa, and Norteño. There will also be hundreds of vendors selling Mexican folk art, handcrafted goods and some of Colorado’s best Mexican cuisine. Nearby campgrounds include Bear Creek Lake Park in Lakewood and Flying Saucer RV Park in Sheridan.
In San Antonio, Texas, not only are there multiple Cinco de Mayo celebrations at various venues across the city, but there’s Fiesta San Antonio, a popular 10-day event that showcases many aspects of Mexican culture with parades, a beauty pageant, folkloric dance performances, and other events. Nearby campgrounds include Hidden Valley RV Park and Alamo River RV Park & Campground, both in Von Ormy.
Arizona's Largest Cinco de Mayo Festival takes place in downtown Phoenix. The event includes food and drink, family activities, lucha libre, and folkloric dance performances and live music featuring both local and national bands. Nearby campgrounds include Desert's Edge RV Park in Phoenix and Pueblo El Mirage RV Resort in El Mirage.
San Diego, California, for its part, has a Cinco de Mayo Fiesta in Old Town, which features over 20 Latin bands, Mariachis and a ballet folklorico competition. Nearby campgrounds include the San Diego Metro KOA Resort and Sun Outdoors San Diego Bay, both in neighboring Chula Vista.
Festival Listings by State
Of course, many campgrounds also offer their own Cinco de Mayo activities, which can involve everything from maraca, sombrero, and piñata-making activities to fiesta-style potlucks and Salsa competitions. Here’s a sample of Cinco de Mayo weekend activities at campgrounds across the country:
California
- San Francisco North / Petaluma KOA Resort in Petaluma: This campground is planning to have Cinco de Mayo activities and Mexican food.
- Santa Cruz / Monterey Bay KOA in Watsonville: This campground celebrates Cinco de Mayo with vibrant live music, mouthwatering Mexican-inspired cuisine and endless fun. Activities include piñata making, painting a tile, maraca making, cinco bingo, and a chips and salsa social.
Colorado
- Colorado Springs KOA Holiday in Fountain: Cinco de Mayo activities at this campground include a lively Mexican Fiesta Parade where families can dress in colorful costumes, followed by a piñata party with candy and prizes. Campers can also get creative at the Craft Station and make their own maracas or sombreros and test their skills in a taco eating contest and a Salsa dance competition.
Kids can enjoy a donkey race and a Mexican hat dance. There will also be a Lucha Libre Wrestling-themed movie night and a chili cookoff where guests can showcase their best recipes. Wrap up the weekend with a campfire fiesta and story time, complete with traditional treats like churros and Mexican hot chocolate. It’s a fiesta the whole family will love!
Michigan
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Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Carsonville: Cinco de Mayo activities at this location include a taco eating contest, where you can compete alongside your favorite bears, or take a swing at a colorful piñata filled with treats. Guests can also join Yogi Bear, Boo Boo and Cindy Bear throughout the weekend for parades, games, and themed crafts.
Missouri
- Jellysone Park Camp-Resort in Monroe City: This park is planning a flavor-packed taco fiesta over Cinco de Mayo weekend. Guests can try their luck taking a swing or two at a piñata or take part in a guacamole-making challenge that will have you mashing, mixing, and dicing your way to victory.
- Basswood Resort in Platte City: Cinco de Mayo activities at this campground include a tie dye fiesta, a Mexican hat dance competition, a piñata bash, and a kids scavenger hunt.
New Jersey
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Thousand Trails Chestnut Lake in Port Republic: Cinco de Mayo activities at this park include sombrero cookie decorating, piñata making, and a sombrero hunt. Guests are also invited to bring a favorite dish to share at the park’s Cinco de Mayo taco bar. There will also be piñata fun for all ages in the evening on Saturday.
Wisconsin
- Champions Riverside Resort in Galesville: This campground celebrates both Cinco de Mayo and the Kentucky Derby on the same weekend. Guests are invited to wear their best derby hat or decorate one in the bar and walk in the hat parade while the audience votes for the best hat. The winner gets a cash prize. Guests can also celebrate Cinco de Mayo with margarita flights or hit piñatas filled with shooters, bar chips, and certificates for adults and candy for kids.
