Mariachi Music Will Fill Streets of Santa Ana : Festival: Eight bands will perform at Cinco de Mayo celebration at Fiesta Marketplace this weekend.

Fructuoso Valdez, a 75-year-old violinist, has played with mariachi bands for half a century and, like the well-seasoned musicians he performs with, won’t be quitting any too soon.

“It’s in their blood, it’s what they love to do,” says Adelita Valdez, Valdez’ wife and director of Perla de Jalisco, the band in which her husband plays. It will be one of eight mariachis performing this weekend for Fiesta Marketplace Mariachi Festival 1992.

Perla de Jalisco is a Los Angeles-based group whose eight members range in age from 55 to 75. They’ll be featured at the third annual event, a Cinco de Mayo celebration to be held at Fiesta Marketplace in downtown Santa Ana from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Mexican folk dance, mime artists, food and game booths, and a lecture on the history of mariachis will round out the street fair, to take place on 3rd and 4th streets, between Bush and French streets. Music and dance will be performed at the intersection of Spurgeon and 3rd streets. Information: (714) 558-6869.

The following is a partial list of activities, all of which are free:

Saturday:

* 11 a.m.: “The History of Mariachi,” by historian Jonathan Clark, at Teatro Fiesta, 305-100 E. 4th St., Santa Ana.

* 2:30-2:45 p.m.: UC Irvine Ballet Folklorico

* 3:30-4 p.m.: Mariachi Juvenil Sol de Mexico, a student group

* 6-6:45 p.m.: Mariachi Perla de Jalisco

* 7-8 p.m.: Mariachi Uclatlan

Sunday:

* 12:30-1 p.m., Relampago Children’s group, a folk dance by youngsters

* 1:15-2:15 p.m., Mariachi Alanos de Garfield

* 2:30-3:30 p.m., Mariachi Sol de Mexico

* 3:30-4:30 p.m., Mariachi Los Galleros

* 6:15-7 p.m., Mariachi Internacional de Mexico