Community Corner

Cinco de Mayo Celebrations Planned Throughout L.A. County

What are you doing for Cinco de Mayo? Tell us in the comment section below.

Cinco de Mayo celebrations will be held on Olvera Street and several other sites in Los Angeles County Saturday through Monday while law enforcement agencies will be cracking down on drunken driving.

The Olvera Street Cinco de Mayo celebration will be held from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday through Monday and consist of popular and traditional music, dancing, food and exhibitor booths.

Carson will hold its 39th annual Cinco de Mayo Fiesta from noon-5 p.m. Sunday in recently renovated Carson Park. The Flor D'Luna will lead the entertainment lineup, which will also include the Xipe Totec Danzantes Aztecas; Grupo Folklorico Faisan; Mariachi Academy of Carson; Calas Park Alma De Oro; and Veterans SportsComplex Salsa Group.

Find out what's happening in Monroviawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The fiesta will also feature a variety of food and game booths, arts and crafts and cultural displays.

Monterey Park's 32nd annual Cinco de Mayo Celebration will be held from 1-6 p.m. at the Barnes Park Amphitheater, with performances by local and regional performers, authentic Mexican food and raffle drawings.

Find out what's happening in Monroviawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In West Hollywood, the Grande Cinco de Mayo Block Party will be held from 2-10 p.m. Sunday at the corner of El Tovar Place and Robertson Boulevard. It will feature food and live entertainment to celebrate Mexican heritage and culture.

Proceeds will benefit Project Angel Food, a nonprofit organization that provides free and nutritious meals to those affected by HIV/AIDS.

With alcohol being a big part of many Cinco de Mayo festivities, special driving-under-the-influence saturation patrols will be conducted, and DUI checkpoints operated according to Glendora police Chief Tim Staab, who coordinates the Avoid the 100 Task Force, which gets its name from the number of participating agencies.

Staab advised the public to:

  • Designate a sober driver before the festivities begin
  • Report drunken drivers by calling 911 and
  • Take the keys of people about to drive while impaired and help them make arrangements to get safely to where they're going.

"In this day and age, there is no excuse for driving drunk," Staab said.

Cinco de Mayo commemorates the victory of a 4,500-man Mexican militia over a larger, well-equipped French expeditionary force at the original Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.

—City News Service



Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here