Cinco de Mayo Fiestas Planned in Southeast, L.B.

Cinco de Mayo festivities, featuring food and game booths, carnival rides, exhibitions and entertainment, will take place today through Sunday throughout the Southeast and Long Beach areas.

The May 5 holiday commemorates the Battle of Puebla in 1862, in which outnumbered Mexican troops defeated the forces of Napoleon III, marking the end of French intervention. Activities will take place in the following cities:

Bellflower--A Spring Fiesta, featuring food and game booths, carnival rides and drawings for a 1985 Camaro Z28 and $2,750 in prizes, will be held from noon to 11 p.m. Saturday and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday at St. John Bosco High School, 13640 S. Bellflower Blvd. Information: 920-1737.

Commerce--A celebration presented by the Department of Parks and Recreation will include food and game booths, carnival rides, Mexican folk dancing and mariachi, Latin jazz and rhythm music from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday at Bristow Park, 1466 S. McDonnell St. Information: 722-4805.

Compton--A cultural and commercial fair sponsored by the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce and the Latino Chamber of Commerce of Compton will feature food and concession booths, exhibits, carnival rides, Mexican entertainers and fireworks from 3 to 11 p.m. Friday and from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Alameda Auto Plaza, near the 91 Freeway and Alameda Street. Admission is $3.50, free for children. Proceeds will help provide matching funds for a grant to aid the development of minority businesses throughout the state. Information: (213) 604-8224 or (818) 760-7115.

Hawaiian Gardens--A fiesta sponsored by the Recreation Department will feature food and information booths, mariachi music and a penny carnival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Bloomfield Elementary School, 12120 E. Carson St. Information: 420-2641.

Long Beach--A street fair and concert will be presented by the Centro de la Raza/East Long Beach Neighborhood Center, in cooperation with the city and the Legal Aid Foundation of Long Beach, from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday at International Amphitheatre Square, 1st Street and Promenade North. Information: 433-5761.

A program featuring dancing by Razzle Dazzle, films and a surprise for children and their families will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Long Beach Public Library and Information Center, 101 Pacific Ave. Admission is free. Information: 437-2949.

Norwalk--A carnival for John Glenn High School students and their parents will feature music and food and game booths from 1:30 to 2:45 p.m. Friday at the school, 13520 Shoemaker Ave. The Cinco de Mayo queen and her court will be announced at 2 p.m. Information: 868-0431, ext. 283 or 284.

Pico Rivera--A three-day festival sponsored by the city and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6315 will consist of food and game booths and entertainment from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday at Smith Park, 6016 Rosemead Blvd. Highlights on Saturday will include a men’s doubles handball tournament from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and a costume contest at 2 p.m. On Sunday, there will be an appearance by Ajax the Clown at noon. A costume contest, sandwich-making competition and lip-sync contest also are planned. Information: 942-2000, ext. 262.

Whittier--A celebration sponsored by the Human Services Department on Sunday will include the Walnut Tree Art Festival--an arts and crafts fair featuring more than 150 booths displaying and selling paintings, pottery, stained glass, jewelry, folk art, needle craft and basketry--from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the park area in the 1200 block of Whittier Boulevard where Mar Vista Street ends.

Other festivities will include music, singing and dancing by the Mariachi Hacienda and the Rosie Tapia Folklorico Dancers with Mexican food sold by the Guirado Park Senior Citizens Club from 2 to 3 p.m. at Central Park, 13200 Bailey St. Information: 945-8208.

The Patio des Artes showcasing handmade arts and crafts and continuous live entertainment will be offered by the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday in the parking lot at the Whittier Quad Shopping Center, Painter Avenue at Whittier Boulevard. A Patio de los Ninos with crafts, contests and pinatas for children 6 to 12 years old will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Information: 692-2123.

The folk art exhibit “Artesanos Mexicanos,” featuring three artists from Mexico, will be on display from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to noon Friday through May 31 in the Library Gallery at Rio Hondo College, 3600 Workman Mill Road.

The Hispanic Students Assn. and the Associated Students of Rio Hondo College will present folklorico dancers, a Latin jazz band and food booth beginning at 12:15 p.m. today in the Lower Quad, with a showing of the film “Zoot Suit” at 8 p.m. in Putnam Center. Tickets for the film are $2 general admission, $1 for students. A student dance will be held at 9 p.m. Friday in the Putnam Center. Tickets are $4 general admission, $2 for students. Information: 692-0921, ext. 319 or 391.