Southland Gets in the Spirit With Cinco de Mayo Events

One hundred twenty-seven years later and they’re still celebrating the Mexican victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla and the subsequent independence of the country. Cinco de Mayo it’s called (postponed in many areas this year to coincide with the weekend), and the festivities continue to proliferate. A sampling:

The Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Department presents celebrations Sunday at many park centers. Mariachis and folkloric dancers will perform just about everywhere there is a festival, including one of the biggest: Lincoln Park, 3501 Valley Blvd., where food booths, rides, games and continuous entertainment flavor the day 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Paxton Rec Center, 10731 Laurel Canyon Blvd., will feature 20 musical groups along with rides and booths, also 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. During those same hours, Penmar Rec Center, 1341 Lake St., Venice, will stage a “Kings and Queens Pageant” along with ballet, games and pinatas. Among other centers feting the occasion will be South Park, Wilmington, Exposition, Gilbert Lindsay, Algin Sutton and Olvera Street.

In a spirit of ecumenism, Alhambra Park, 500 N. Palm Ave., Alhambra, includes ethnic groups from all over in its “Festival of Neighbors,” today from noon to 10 p.m. Musicians, dancers and singers representing Africa, Scotland, Lebanon, China, etc. will perform; a “Native Sweet Treat Contest” and a “Native Dress Parade” are open to all ages. Art contests for students kindergarten through 12th grade will be judged; pinatas, foods, crafts round out the program.

At Monarch Quad of Los Angeles Valley College (Fulton Avenue at Burbank Boulevard, Van Nuys), a free concert, co-presented by the Playboy Jazz Festival and Keyes 4 Cars, Sunday afternoon, 1:30-5 p.m., will feature a triple bill of Poncho Sanchez, Wishful Thinking and 1 + One, with Patrick Rushen and Ndugu Chancler.

Just north of the border, Old Town State Historic Park in San Diego promises its “grandest Cinco de Mayo Festival ever,” with two days (today and Sunday) of nonstop entertainment on three stages, a dramatic reenactment of the Battle of Puebla in authentic regalia, an Early California fashion show, kiosks, etc. Call (619) 237-6770.