DENVER, CO – April 29, 2016 – A weekend filled with food, fun and culture, Denver's Cinco de Mayo “Celebrate Culture” Festival puts the spotlight on The Mile High City's vibrant Latino population. With more than 400,000 attendees expected, it's one of Denver's most fun and family-friendly events. This year's festival takes place May 7-8, 2016. Get a great hotel rate at VISITDENVER.com.  

Contrary to popular belief in the U.S., Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day. Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican army's 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. A relatively minor holiday in Mexico, in the United States Cinco de Mayo has evolved into a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage. Cinco de Mayo traditions include parades, mariachi music performances and street festivals in cities and towns across Mexico and the United States. Denver's Cinco de Mayo Celebration was started in 1987 by NEWSED Community Development Corporation (www.newsed.org) as a neighborhood street fair to showcase Mexican heritage.

Visitors can expect two days of great celebrations and overflowing crowds in historic Civic Center Park in downtown Denver. The Cinco de Mayo “Celebrate Culture” Festival and Parade is a fun family-oriented event with special attractions, vendors, musical acts, folkloric dancers, mariachis and some of the most delicious Mexican cuisine Colorado has to offer. This year there will be two music stages featuring well-known traditional and contemporary Latino entertainment acts from artists such as Alta Frecuencia, El Pollo Y El Chilo, Chavos Dun Dun and El Zavala y Su Banda. Additional family events include a lowrider car show, the 8th Annual Green Chili Bowl Cook Off, Chihuahua Races, and a Taco Eating Contest. For full event details, please visit: http://www.cincodemayodenver.com/.

The Cinco de Mayo “Celebrate Culture” Parade kicks off the Festival on the morning of Saturday May 7nd at 11:00 am. 

Dates: Saturday, May 7, 2016 - Sunday, May 8, 2016
Location: Civic Center Park (Broadway & Colfax)
Times: Saturday 11 a.m. - 8 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Cost: Free admission.

  Families coming to town early can celebrate Día del Niño on Saturday, April 23rd and Sunday, April 24th throughout the museum complex and neighboring institutions. Enjoy free admission and family-friendly programming that at the Denver Art Museum Complex, Denver Public Library, Clyfford Still Museum, History Colorado Center, and the Byers-Evans House Museum. http://denverartmuseum.org/calendar/d-del-ni-o-celebration-2016   ###   About NEWSED Community Development Corporation Established in 1973, NEWSED's mission is to promote and develop economic, housing, arts and cultural, and community programs that increase income and education levels, and political engagement of Denver-area residents.  

About VISIT DENVER, The Convention & Visitors Bureau

Celebrating 107 years of promoting The Mile High City, VISIT DENVER is a nonprofit trade association that contracts with the City of Denver to market Denver as a convention and leisure destination, increasing economic development in the city, creating jobs and generating taxes. A record 15.4 million visitors stayed overnight in Denver in 2014, generating $4.6 billion in spending, while supporting nearly 54,000 jobs and making tourism among the top industries in Denver. Learn more about Denver on the VISITDENVER website and at TOURISMPAYSDENVER or by phone at 800 2 Denver. Follow Denver's social media channels for up-to-the-minute updates at: Facebook.com/visitdenver; Twitter.com/visitdenver; Instagram.com/visitdenver; and YouTube.com/visitdenver.