You've heard of Cinco de Mayo but do you know why it's celebrated? Cinco de Mayo (5th of May) commemorates the anniversary of the Battle of Puebla that resulted in Mexico's military victory over Napoleon III in 1862. Today, many Mexican Americans honor the anniversary by celebrating with family and friends, cooking traditional food, dancing and having fun.
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with your family and friends by attending a local cultural event, cooking Mexican food, creating an art project or hosting your own fiesta!
Local Cinco de Mayo Events 2026
FREE Fiesta Cinco de Mayo in Old Town. Food, music and family-friendly activities. Saturday & Sunday, May 2 & 3; 11 am–7 pm. San Diego Ave. & Harney St. www.oldtownsandiego.org
FREE Cinco de Mayo Celebration. Live entertainment, cultural programming, family-friendly activities and more. Saturday, May 2; 11 am–7 pm. Gaslamp Quarter, 5th & Market. www.gaslamp.org/cinco-de-mayo
FREE Cinco de Mayo Celebration at Seaport Village. Baile Folklórico performances, themed décor and more. Sunday, May 3; 11 am–3 pm. Carousel District, 849 W. Harbor Dr. www.seaportvillage.com
Cinco de Mayo Fiesta. Live mariachi band, beautifully curated decor and more. Tuesday, May 5; 4–8 pm. Rancho Bernardo Inn, 17550 Bernardo Oaks Dr. Tickets: www.ranchobernardoinn.com
Art Projects
Brighten up your fiesta with a Smiling Sun Craft made with colorful yarn and glue. Get creative and make your own unique design! Find the complete instructions here.
Make a festive fiesta banner decoration with this quick and easy DIY project for your Cinco de Mayo celebration at home. Find instructions here.
Alebrijes, Mexican Folk Art Sculptures
Alebrijes, familiar to those who have seen the movie “Coco,” are brightly colored Mexican folk art sculptures—mythical creatures with body parts from varying animals. This is a fun DIY project that celebrates Mexico’s history and culture. Make your own alebrijes to use in storytelling or as decoration. Click here for instructions.
Traditional Recipes
Melissa d'Arabian's Chicken-Chile Pozole
This brothy Mexican soup is chock-full of hominy, mild dried chiles, and shredded chicken or pork. Shredded chicken and mild New Mexico dried red chiles make this soup weeknight and kid-friendly. If you want a spicier version, try adding a dried chipotle chile (or two). Find the complete recipe at www.sandiegofamily.com/things-to-do/dining-and-recipes/chicken-chile-pozole.
Tilapia Tacos
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with tilapia tacos from Food Network chef and local mom Melissa d'Arabian. She shares some of her favorite Mexican recipes, including this one from her best-selling cookbook "Ten Dollar Dinners." www.sandiegofamily.com/things-to-do/dining-and-recipes/melissa-darabian-spiced-tilapia-tacos.
Mexican Lettuce Cups
A healthier alternative to most party food, these lettuce cups are packed with flavor and perfect for a Cinco de Mayo celebration. www.sandiegofamily.com/things-to-do/dining-and-recipes/mexican-lettuce-cups
Chili-Mango Pops
Pack mango sorbet into small paper cups; add ice pop sticks and freeze. When ready to serve, tear away the paper cups, then roll in a mixture of finely grated lime zest and chili powder.
Jalapeño-Lime Ice Pops
Pour limeade halfway into ice pop molds, drop 1 or 2 jalapeño slices into each, then freeze until solid. Repeat with more limeade and jalapeño slices, add sticks and freeze again until solid.
Agua Fresca
Blend 5 cups of any chopped fruit (strawberries, cantaloupe, pineapple, honeydew, watermelon or mango) with 3 cups water, 1⁄2 cup sugar and 2 tablespoons lime juice. Add more sugar and lime juice to taste and serve over ice.
The last three recipes and photos are published with permission from The Recipe-a-Day Kids Cookbook by Maile Carpenter and the editors of Food Network Magazine (Hearst Home Kids).
Updated April 2026
