Southeast, Long Beach Activities : Cinco de Mayo: Celebrations Will Fill 5 Days

Cinco de Mayo festivities, featuring carnival rides, entertainment, exhibits, food and game booths and various sports competitions, will take place today through Monday throughout the Southeast and Long Beach areas.

The May 5 Mexican 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--Spring Fiesta, featuring carnival rides, entertainment, food and game booths, drawings for a 1986 Mustang GT Hatchback or Thunderbird Elan and cash prizes totaling $2,750, will be 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, noon to 11 p.m. Saturday and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday at St. John Bosco High School, 13640 S. Bellflower Blvd. Information: (213) 920-1734.

Huntington Park--The international dance troupe Ballet Costumbrista de Puebla from Puebla, Mexico, will be featured at the Huntington Park Chamber of Commerce’s ninth annual Fiesta Days, which will be today through Monday throughout the community. The dance troupe will perform at a dinner, dance and show that will be from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday at the Huntington Park Elks Lodge, 3355 E. Gage Ave. Tickets are $15, and include a steak picado dinner and dancing to orchestra and mariachi music. Another performance will be at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at the California Theatre, 6528 Pacific Blvd. Tickets are $4.50 for general admission, $2.50 for children. The chamber will also sponsor a family picnic featuring entertainment, carnival rides and food and game booths from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at Salt Lake Park, 3401 Florence Ave. Information: (213) 585-1155.

Long Beach--Activities including a custom auto show, a softball game between the Beach Cities Latin Peace Officers Assn. and the West Long Beach Little League Coaches and continuous stage entertainment by a variety of groups will be sponsored by the Department of Parks and Recreation from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Silverado Park, 1545 West 31st St. Television news reporter Carla Aragon of KNBC will preside at the official opening of the festival at noon. Afternoon events for children will include a tortilla cook-off, pinata breaking, maraca crafts workshop and a puppet show. The Silverado Park Pool will also be open for free swimming. Information: (213) 435-3404.

Mexican culture will be on display from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Long Beach Children’s Museum, 6336 E. Pacific Coast Highway. Appearing will be the Ballet Folklorico de los Ninos and the Zochipillin Azteca Dancers. A Mexican folk art exhibit on loan for two weeks from the Bower Museum of Santa Ana will also be available for viewing. The nonprofit museum is open Thursday through Sunday. Admission is 50 cents. Information: (213) 431-1084.

Pico Rivera--A three-day festival sponsored by the Parks and Recreation Department and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6315 will consist of carnival rides, entertainment and game and food booths from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, 2 to 10 p.m. Saturday and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday at Smith Park, 6016 Rosemead Blvd. An art fair featuring homemade crafts will be on display Saturday and Sunday. Highlights on Sunday will include drill team performances, dancing by the Ballet Folklorico de Maria Victoria and the breaking of pinatas with candy for all participants ages 5 to 12. Afternoon activities will include horseshoe pitching, handball, volleyball and a baseball pitch contest. Information: (213) 942-2000.

Whittier--Colorful handmade arts and crafts in the Patio de Artes will be a featured attraction at the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation-sponsored fiesta from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Whittier Quad, 8434 Quadway. There will also be a children’s area, the Patio de los Ninos. Information: (213) 692-2123.

The Human Services Department will sponsor a musical celebration featuring Danzas de Tapia, an authentic Mexican folk dance group, and a mariachi band with festivities commencing at 7 p.m. Monday at Central Park, 13200 Bailey St. Information: (213) 945-8205.